Lady Matadors earn rematch with Daytona State after gritty 1-0 semifinal win

ENID, Okla. (KYMA, KECY) - In a match defined by grit, discipline, and defensive excellence, the Arizona Western College women's soccer team is heading back to the NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Sophomore captain Kei Yoneda delivered the moment of the tournament Thursday afternoon, curling in a spectacular 79th-minute free kick to lift the Lady Matadors to a 1–0 win over Seminole State College.

The victory secures AWC's return to the title match, improving them to 16-1-0 and setting up a highly anticipated rematch with Daytona State the same program that denied them the trophy a year ago.

For nearly 80 minutes, neither side could break through in the wet and rainy Oklahoma conditions.

Arizona Western controlled more of the second-half chances, with Linka Ono leading the attack by generating a team-high five shots and repeatedly pressuring the Seminole back line. Still, both teams remained locked in a scoreless stalemate well into the final stretch.

Then came the decisive moment.

After a yellow card against Seminole State in the 78th minute, Arizona Western earned a free kick from 25 yards out. Yoneda stepped up, looked to her coach for confirmation, got the nod and delivered.

Her bending strike lifted over the defensive wall, skipped off the goalkeeper's hands, and kissed the top-right corner of the net. It was Yoneda's second sensational goal of this national tournament, but easily the biggest of her career.

Head coach Victor Verdugo said the moment perfectly encapsulated the trust and quality Yoneda brings as the team’s captain.

"She kind of looked over and I gave her the indication...go for it," Verdugo said. "She's been exceptional all year defending, and for her to have that moment…it's magnified so much because it’s the one that got us through to the final."

Seminole State nearly equalized just a minute later, but freshman goalkeeper Iyan Hernandez made a critical save to preserve the lead.

Hernandez finished with two saves, while AWC's organized back line, led by standout freshman Karen Sodeyama, limited Seminole State to only three shots on goal the entire match.

As pressure mounted in the closing minutes, Verdugo credited his team's physicality and resilience in the defensive duels.

"It comes down to getting our moments right and denying theirs," he said. "I tell the girls the team that wins the most duels usually wins the game, and today we battled. They were very direct, very transitional, and we managed those difficult moments."

For the second straight year, Arizona Western will play for a national title. And for the second straight year, the opponent is Daytona State, the defending national champions and current No. 1 team in the country.

Daytona edged the Lady Matadors 2-1 in overtime last season. This time, Estrella said, the stakes, and the expectations, are even higher.

"That's the matchup everybody in the country wanted to see: Us versus them," Verdugo said. "They're dynamic, they're complete, but so are we. It's going to come down to who can stay on top in those final 94 minutes, who capitalizes in the final third, and who manages transitions. That will decide it."

Kickoff for the national championship is set for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. MST.

Arizona Western will once again host a public watch party in the hospitality room near the gymnasium for fans, students, and community members.

The Lady Matadors are 90 minutes away from the program's first national title, and they get another shot at redemption.