PENSACOLA, Fla. - It was a nail-biter type of game between the Seahawks and Wildcats that was decided in the 88th minute on a set piece. Keiser (Fla.) and Indiana Wesleyan were in a battle of possession that ended in a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to a late goal by forward Maria Vilhena. KU improves to 17-3-1 on the season, while IWU wraps up the season at 15-4-1.

The game remained scoreless for the majority of the match, with both teams trying to find the back of the net. Keiser dominated in terms of shots, registering a total of 20 attempts compared to Indiana Wesleyan’s 12. However, it wasn’t until the 88th minute that the deadlock was broken. Maria Vilhena, who had been a constant threat in the attacking third, capitalized on a corner kick delivered by Ella Bergstrom. Vilhena expertly headed the ball into the net, marking her 12th goal of the season and sending the Seahawks to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Dec. 4.

Keiser's goalkeeper, Mio Tanaka, was instrumental in maintaining the clean sheet, making five crucial saves throughout the match, while her team's persistence offensively late in the second half. Indiana Wesleyan's defense, led by goalkeeper Avery Sluss, also put up a commendable effort. Sluss recorded six saves, keeping her team in the game until the final moments. However, the short time to respond left Indiana Wesleyan unable to find the equalizer.