BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – No. 5-seed Life University (9-8) advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-South Conference Tournament with a 1-0 victory over the fourth-seeded University of the Cumberlands (8-8-3) on Thursday.
 
"I think we deserved this win," Head Coach Alex Pama said. "The circumstances were not easy with a strong wind on the field, but our guys came out strong and got the goal early. We changed the system somewhat in the second half, and the guys responded marvelously. The team worked hard for each other and I thought our defense played great. We know the semifinal will not be easy against the top seed, but we have proven all season that we can play with the best."
 
Sophomore Wessley Soronellas scored the game's lone goal with an assist from freshman Thierry Jules. Life U outshot the Patriots 14-7, with four shots on goal compared to just one. Freshman Daryoush Hosseini earned the shutout win with one save.
 
The Running Eagles pressured UC early with two shots, including a shot on goal from Jules, in the first 10 minutes of the match. Soronellas got Life U on the board with a goal off of a low cross in front of the keeper from Jules to go up 1-0 at 11'. The Patriots returned the pressure and had chances to tie the game, but could not get shots to fall with one clanging off the crossbar and one saved by Hosseini. Soronellas almost put the Running Eagles up 2-0 at 31', but had his shot blocked by a UC defender. Life U took a 1-0 lead into the half.
 
The Running Eagles turned up the offensive pressure in the second half with ten shots in the period. Soronellas had two shots blocked in a three minute-span early in half, while junior Jacob Bivens had a shot saved. Sophomore Henry Hernandez almost added a second goal for Life U at 81', but had his shot saved. The Running Eagles took three shots inside the final five minutes with Jules, freshman Matteo Carosella and senior Giovanni Freitas all missing high. However, Life U came away with the 1-0 victory in the end.
 
With the win, the Running Eagles now advance to the tournament semifinals, where they have a date with No. 1-seed Lindsey Wilson on Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Bowling Green, Ky.