WSOC: Aquinas' Season Comes to a Close in Round of 16

By: Tommy Gehl - Aquinas Athletic Communications

Pensacola, Florida — The No. 5-rated Aquinas College women's soccer team took to the grass pitch at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex for the Round of 16 in the NAIA National Tournament against the No. 4-rated Firehawks of Tennessee Southern. This top-five national match-up resulted in a stalemate up to half-time as both teams were just unable to find a finish. The contest came to a peak in the second half as scoring went both ways, but finished with the UTS on top by a score of 3-1.

Tennessee Southern 3, Aquinas 1

With the initial whistle, the Round of 16 contest was off to a clashing start as both teams began to battle for dominance. Aquinas landed on their front foot and went on to establish more offensive attempts outshooting the Firehawks 7-2 in the first. No matter the attempt, no team found the back of the net in the first half.

The second half came with heightened emotions as both teams faced their respective eliminations with just 45 minutes on the clock. 

Tennessee Southern had their first attempt at a sigh of relief with a chance with a penalty kick in the 55th minute, and sigh they did. This goal made UTS the seventh team all season to score on AQ. This made for the third time this season that the Saints had found themselves on the receiving end of an opening goal.

Returning the ball to play Aquinas bolted back into action with an attack on the left side spearheaded by Sydney Shenk. In an attempt to rebuttal Shenk crossed the ball in and a defender mishandled the touch resulting in an own goal just 14 seconds later. The Saints now found their own sigh of relief with a turnaround equalizer.

However, the equalizer did not stay long as the Firehawks soared back in the 58th minute with a combination pass resulting in a goal. Once again putting AQ on the back foot. The Saints continued to push on as they looked for an equalizer, but it didn't come. Tennessee Southern went on to find one last goal to cement their advantage over the undefeated Saints, putting the Firehawks at a 3-1 advantage with just minutes left.

With the final whistle, AQ's historical season had found its end with the team's first loss of the season. 

Here is what Head Coach James DeCosemo had to share about the team's season, "I'm disappointed that it has to end this way but I'm very proud of this team and how they played together all year. I want to give a big shout-out to the seniors who have changed this program. Their impact can't be put into words. Hopefully, we can continue to build on the success of the last couple of years and keep this program competing at this level!"

By the Numbers

• AQ outshot UTS 14 (5) - 6 (6), and held more corner kicks 6 - 2
• This marks the seventh appearance of Aquinas in the NAIA Tournament
• The Saints record concludes with a 17-1-2 (11-0-1) standing

Up Next

The Saints now turn their eyes on the 2025 season.