FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The magical run through the 2023 USA South Conference Tournament continues for the Brevard College women's soccer team (13-4-3), as the third-seeded Tornados shut out Methodist University (12-5-1), 2-0 to advance to the program's first USA South Conference Tournament Championship match.
 
Brevard, who used an early first-half goal followed by a strike in the first minute of the second half to pull the upset, will now advance to take on Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia in the championship match on Saturday at 6 p.m. 
 
The win over the Monarchs marks the first postseason victory for the Tornados ever in the NCAA era. The BC women's soccer program has qualified for five previous postseason tournaments since joining the NCAA ranks, with all ending in first-round exits. Tuesday's contest vs. Meredith, officially a draw after a tied score throughout regulation and two overtime periods, marked the first time a Tornado women's soccer team had advanced through to the Semifinals of any tournament – with BC advancing by virtue of a 4-2 result in a PK shootout.
 
Thursday's victory over the Monarchs marked just the second time in program history that the Tornados have defeated Methodist in women's soccer, and the first time since 2017. The 2-0 shutout performance gives the Tornados 12 total shutouts in 20 matches in the 2023 campaign.
 
Senior forward Tae Brown and freshman midfielder Austin Huffman were the goalscorers for the Tornados on the afternoon, as Huffman put in the eventual match-winner while Brown added an insurance goal in the first seconds of the second period. Huffman's goal was made possible off an assist from Grace Black, and Nicole Arroyo earned the win for the Tornados as the starting GK, tallying five saves and recording her eighth total shutout of the season (six solo, two combined).
 
Brevard struck first in the semifinal bout when Black won possession down the near sideline. The senior forward cut towards the goal and delivered a cross within the penalty box that was deflected by Methodist's keeper. Huffman was there on the spot, one-timing the ball into the empty side of the net to give the Tornados the early advantage in the 21^st minute of play – scoring the first goal of the postseason for the Tornados. The score marked the sixth of Huffman's All-Conference freshman campaign for Brevard.
 
Prior to the score, it was BC's goalkeeper Arroyo who kept the score level through the first 20 minutes of action. The sophomore from Yulee, Florida made two saves before BC's goal, including one right off the bat in the first minute of play.
 
Following the goal for the Tornados, Abby Mayer fired a shot in the 32^nd minute that was blocked by the Monarch defense, and then Methodist attempted a pair of shots, including a narrow miss on a header over the bar by Leslie Reyes-Melendez. BC's defense held firm, as Arroyo totaled another save and the Tornados took the one-goal lead into the halftime break.
 
Brevard wasted no time adding to its lead, as in the 47^th minute of play Brown was able to dispossess the Monarch center back and finish a one-on-one scoring opportunity that doubled Brevard's lead to a 2-0 margin.
 
Mikayla Zvekan recorded a shot attempt in the 56^th minute of play before the Tornado defense had to anchor down over the next 15 minutes of action, as Brevard faced three shot attempts and Arroyo secured two more saves.
 
Methodist recorded two more shot attempts down the stretch, including one that was cleared off the line by the Tornado defense. Huffman fired a shot in the 85^th minute that forced a save from MU's keeper Carolina Simpkins, and a last-minute Monarch shot effort went out left.
 
The countdown clock reached zero and pandemonium set in at Duggins Soccer Stadium, as the Tornados wrapped up the 2-0 victory that will send Brevard to its first championship contest of the NCAA era.
 
Overall, the Monarchs held a slight 11-7 shot advantage despite being held off the scoreboard, however, the Tornados totaled six crucial saves in the shutout.
 
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