ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – No. 19-ranked Oregon Tech’s historic season came to an end Saturday evening in the NAIA National Tournament Semifinals. Third-seeded Tennessee Southern (23-1-0) picked up a 4-1 victory over the 10
th-seeded Owls to advance to the title game.
Tennessee Southern wasted little time to get on the board, finding the back of the net in the sixth minute. The Firehawks doubled their lead less than 20 minutes later and tacked on a third goal before halftime to put the Owls in a 3-0 hole at the break.
After not registering a single shot in the first half, Oregon Tech came out determined to turn things around in the second.
Less than three minutes into the half, Amanda Seward fired off a dangerous chance, but it pinged off the post to keep the Owls off the board.
The Firehawks turned on a counterattack, but Alyx Burkhartzmeyer made the save to keep her team in the game.
In the 51
st minute, Mehana Ortiz broke through for the Owls with her 11
th goal of the season.
Ten minutes later, however, Tennessee Southern capitalized again to all but seal the victory and a chance to play for an NAIA Championship.
Seward gave Tech one last chance in the final minute of action but got too much on it as it sailed wide of the frame to seal the 4-1 result.
The Owls end the impressive year at 20-4-1 with their first-ever trip to the NAIA semifinals and setting a new record for most wins in a season.