The Patriots remained undefeated on the pitch and court. The #5 Soccer team batteled hard to a 2-1 win in Miami against St. Thomas. Meanwhile here in Kentucky the #20 Volleyball team swept the Boyce Bulldogs.

Late-Game Heroics Lift Cumberlands Past St. Thomas, 2-1

Under the humid South Florida sun, the University of the Cumberlands women’s soccer team stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games with a dramatic 2-1 victory over St. Thomas at AutoNation Field.

The game was a tale of pressure versus precision. St. Thomas dominated stretches of play, outshooting Cumberlands 12–7 and forcing goalkeeper Morgan White into 10 saves, but the Patriots capitalized on their few clear opportunities — thanks to the brilliance of sophomore forward Wakana Ose.

First Half: Surviving Pressure

The opening 45 minutes were a test of endurance for the Patriots’ back line. The Bobcats peppered White with shots — including a pair of early strikes from Julia Ezcurra — but the keeper stood tall. While St. Thomas held the edge in corners and shots, Cumberlands’ defenders held their line, keeping the score 0–0 at halftime.

Second Half: Ose Breaks Through

Just three minutes into the second half, the Patriots finally found their opening. A crisp build-up between midfielders Laura Bosca and Kayah Robbins freed Ose inside the box. With one touch, she slotted the ball past keeper Isabella Peñaranda in the 49th minute for a 1–0 lead.

St. Thomas responded with relentless pressure. Their breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Carolina de Vega whipped in a dangerous ball from a corner. Ezcurra pounced, finishing clinically to tie the match 1–1. The momentum shifted, and the Bobcats appeared poised to complete their comeback as wave after wave of attacks tested White once more.

Final Blow: Ose Strikes Again

The deadlock held until late in the match, when the Patriots turned defense into lightning-fast offense. In the 88th minute, substitute Carola Fontan slid a perfectly weighted pass into space. Ose, making a clever diagonal run, struck her second goal of the game — her third of the season — silencing the Bobcat fans and sending her teammates roaring onto the field.

White made two more crucial saves in the closing minutes, including a diving stop on a point-blank header from Ezcurra, preserving the 2-1 win.

Stat Recap

  • Shots (On Goal): STU 12 (11), UC 7 (5)
  • Saves: UC’s White 10, STU’s Peñaranda 3
  • Corners: STU 4, UC 2
  • Fouls: UC 9, STU 6

What It Means

For the Patriots, the win keeps them undefeated at 5-0-2, solidifying their reputation as a resilient team that thrives under pressure. Ose has emerged as their clutch performer, while Morgan White proved again why she is one of the conference’s top goalkeepers.

For St. Thomas, the loss was a frustrating story of missed chances. Despite controlling much of the match, the Bobcats (3-2-1) lacked the finishing edge that Cumberlands displayed on limited opportunities.

As the final whistle blew, it became clear: this was a match defined by efficiency, heart, and Wakana Ose’s killer instinct in front of net.

Patriots Nation Player of the Game

Wakana Ose for her 2 goals on the day.

Cumberlands Dominates Boyce in Straight Sets, Extends Perfect Start to 12-0

The University of the Cumberlands volleyball team showed why it remains undefeated, rolling past Boyce College in straight sets (25-9, 25-10, 25-17) to improve to a perfect 12-0 on the season.

Boyce, still searching for its first win, struggled against Cumberlands’ size and efficiency at the net. Ultimately, the Patriots hit .475 as a team while holding Boyce to -.097, a clear illustration of how one-sided the match was.

Set 1: A Statement Start

Cumberlands wasted no time in taking command of the match. With perfectly placed sets from Savanah Jolly (who finished with 35 assists), the Patriots’ hitters overwhelmed Boyce. Sara Zampedri and Kara Gipson combined for five kills in the opening run as UC stormed out to a double-digit lead.

The Patriots hit an eye-popping .542 in the set while committing no attack errors, cruising to a convincing 25-9 opening win.

Set 2: Relentless Efficiency

The second frame looked much the same. Behind a balanced attack led by Zampedri and Brynnley Bryant, UC built momentum early and never looked back.

Zampedri’s precision hitting (9 kills, .692 hitting percentage) and Gipson’s dominance in the middle (8 kills, .636) kept Boyce on the defensive. Autiana Wilson’s three service aces added to the pressure, igniting the 25-10 rout.

Set 3: Closing the Door

Boyce showed its most resistance in the final set, as Elyse Rau and Avery Green helped the Bulldogs tally some quality rallies, combining for 11 of Boyce’s 15 total kills. However, UC answered every surge with depth off the bench.

Contributions from Faith Franklin (2 kills, .667 pct.) and Elaina Fischer (5 kills, .833 pct.) showcased the Patriots’ depth, while Alana Shiery led the defense with 4 blocks. UC sealed the sweep with a 25-17 win, finishing the night with smooth consistency across the court.

By the Numbers

  • Team Hitting %: UC .475 Boyce -.097
  • Kills: UC 43 Boyce 15
  • Assists: UC 42 Boyce 15
  • Blocks: UC 8 Boyce 2
  • Service Aces: UC 5 Boyce 1
  • Digs: UC 32 Boyce 30

Leaders

Cumberlands (KY)

  • Kills: Zampedri (9), Gipson (8), Bryant (7)
  • Assists: Jolly (35)
  • Aces: Wilson (3)
  • Blocks: Shiery (4)
  • Digs: Bryant (6)

Boyce

  • Kills: Rau (6), Green (5)
  • Assists: Truitt (6), Rau (6)
  • Digs: Theirbach (11)

What It Means

Cumberlands continues its historic start, moving to 12-0 with another dominant performance. Their defense at the net, combined with Jolly’s expert setting and the efficient hitting of Zampedri and Gipson, makes them one of the most balanced teams in the NAIA right now.

For Boyce (0-7), the loss highlights areas for growth, particularly in handling strong serves and attacks from high-powered opponents. Still, Rau and Green offered bright spots, showing the program’s offensive potential.

With momentum squarely in their favor, the Patriots will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive as conference play looms.

Patriots Nation Player of the Game

Sara Zampedri for 9 kills and a .692 hitting percentage.

What’s Next for the Pats

The #5 Soccer Pats will face off on National TV on Saturday at 10 AM against the #1 Keiser on the UEN Network.

The #20 Volleyball Pats will travel to Barbourville, KY to face Union Commonwealth on Saturday at 4 PM.