LAKE WALES, Fla. – Tonight our Lady Royals took on juggernaut Southeastern in another TSC matchup. In what turned out to be an exciting defensive contest the Lady Royals took Southeastern down to the wire but came up just short and fell to the Fire 1-0.
 
This match had the intensity of a playoff match from the start, as neither side was willing to give in defensively; don't surprised if these two teams meet again in the TSC playoffs.
 
Royals Head Coach Payton Chitwood had to this say after the match, "I felt that we started well and were able to execute our game plan; the difference tonight was that we were able to hold the same intensity on and off the field for two halves and that was really encouraging to see."
 
When asked what the game plan was coming into the game, Coach Chitwood answered, "The game plan was to focus on tonight. Focus on our team and not get caught up in who our opponent was."
 
The Lady Royals were 6-3 in conference play, while the Fire were 7-0-1 as they came into tonights match.
 
Coming into the game the Fire were averaging 24 shots per game; however tonight, the Royals stout defense was able to hold them under their game average.
 
The only goal of the match came in the first half (32^nd minute) when Fire forward Uchenna Kanu knocked in a free kick from roughly 30 yards out. Kanu leads all TSC scorers with 41 goals.
 
Other than an ESPN worthy free kick by one of the best scorers in the NAIA, the Fire were not able to create any overly powerful offensive attacks.
 
Defensive leaders for the Lady Royals were Cristina Clements, Emma Marshall, Morgan Newhart, and Taylor Boyd.
 
Boyd and Newhart had their hands full trying to contain Fire forward Uchenna Kanu but were able to limit her impact on the game and disrupt a lot of Southeastern's offensive attacks.
 
Clements controlled the middle of the field all night and Marshall, as always, was a strong force near the Royals net.
 
The Royals had a couple strong offensive attacks and opportunities to find the back of the net but the Fire's defense bent but never broke and were able to halt all of the Royals chances.
 
Look for the Lady Royals to build off of this game tonight as they look to be headed for the TSC playoffs.
 
The Lady Royals have 1 more regular season game left against Florida National University; it will be this Friday October 26 at 7 PM at Royals Field and the game will be the Lady Royals "Senior Night" where they honor all of the team's seniors.