Women's soccer team faces host Spartanburg in Southeast District semifinal

The Eastern Florida State College women's soccer team is hitting the road this weekend for the Southeast District Championship in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Titans have won the past six district titles and head into Friday's semifinal matchup with Spartanburg Methodist as the No. 7 team in the latest NJCAA Division I poll.

Spartanburg Methodist comes into the contest with 114 goals this season, which is third in the nation and is 13-3-3 on the season after losing to Cape Fear in the Region 10 championship 2-1. The Pioneers have two 20-goal scorers this season as Elisabeth McGee comes into the tournament with 26 and Cailyn Marietti has scored 22.

"They are a good team, we are going to have to play well," Eastern Florida State College women's soccer coach Jeff Carr said. "We are playing on their home field so they will have the home field advantage. We are going to have to play hard, take nothing for granted and match their intensity."

The Titans won the Region 8 title with a 2-1 win over Broward College last weekend and are on a four-game win streak and have won eight of the past nine heading into the district tournament, outscoring opponents 31-9 in those nine games. Goalkeeper Kiera Gibson has five shutouts this season for the Titans while Cristina Garriga leads a balanced scoring attack with 11 goals.

"I think there is a little more energy this week, they are excited about playing this weekend," Carr said. "You are never guaranteed to be in this position and hopefully we capitalize on this opportunity."

Cape Fear is 16-1-1 and No. 14 in the latest poll and will play Region 17 champion Gordon State who beat Georgia Military in the final in the second semifinal on Friday. The game can be seen live on the Spartanburg Methodist YouTube page.

The winners will advance to the championship game on Saturday in Spartanburg with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament Nov. 12 in Foley, Alabama.