HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's soccer team is headed to the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament, where the Tigers will take on the No. 1 seed and nationally fifth-ranked West Florida on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. in Huntsville, Alabama.
West Alabama (11-3-3, 7-3-2 GSC) enters the semifinal matchup coming off a strong defensive performance in the quarterfinals against Delta State, from the All-GSC 2nd Team duo of freshman goalkeeper
Yumari Hernandez and senior defender
Emily Djagbare. The three-time GSC Goalkeeper of the Week and five-time GSC Freshman of the Week has now totaled 10 shutouts this season, which is the second most in the conference.
The Tigers are no strangers to the Argonauts, having met earlier this season in Pensacola, where UWA fell 3-0 in the regular-season finale. However, that contest came without one of UWA's key defensive anchors,
Mikaela Carpino, who has since returned to action, bolstering a back line that has allowed just 10 goals in 17 matches and a 0.056 shot percentage.
Offensively, West Alabama is led by standout forward
Selis Demirci, who ranks first in the GSC with 12 goals, averaging 0.71 goals per game and converting four penalty kicks this year.
Bailee Fairley and
Emily Callahan have also provided valuable scoring depth, combining for five goals and one assist this season.
Statistically, the Tigers have outscored opponents 21-10 on the year, averaging 1.24 goals per match while limiting opponents to 0.59. UWA's defense continues to be one of the best in the league, with Hernandez being second of GSC goalkeepers in save percentage (.859) and goals-against average (0.588), having made 61 saves and allowing just ten goals in 17 starts.
West Florida (16-0-2, 11-0-1 GSC) enters the semifinal unbeaten and boasting one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation, scoring 43 goals this season while holding opponents to only eight. The Argonauts are led by GSC Offensive Player of the Year, Olof Thorvaldsdottir (10 goals, 6 assists) and Hunter Wallace (7 goals), while goalkeeper Belle Okoroafo has been dominant with a 0.36 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.
The Tigers will look to rely on their balanced attack, disciplined defense, and elite goalkeeping to pull off the upset, as they did back in 2023, when upsetting the Argos in the first round as a 8-seed, from a goal from now Senior
Aileen Charles, and advance to the GSC Championship for the first time in program history.
Kickoff between the Tigers and Argonauts is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in Huntsville, Alabama.
