Women's Soccer Wins AAC Tournament Title

CLEVELAND, Ga.- The women's soccer team won the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Soccer Tournament Championship on Saturday. The second-seeded Lady Bulldogs defeated the No. 1 seed Truett McConnell University Lady Bears 4-2 to win their first tournament title since 2018.

Tennessee Wesleyan fell behind early as Truett McConnell scored a goal in the 17th minute. A handball in the box gave the Lady Bulldogs a chance to equalize the score, a penalty kick that Valerie Koopman sent flying into the net to tie the game 1-1. Neither team broke the tie before the halftime break.

Five minutes into the second half, TWU broke the tie. Julia Starchl stole the ball from a Truett McConnell defender in their 18-yard box tapped the ball into an empty net in the 50th minute. Five minutes later, Addison Smith rebounded her own shot off the post and slid it into the net, moving the team ahead 3-1. Jenna Vest gave the team their fourth goal, scoring on assists by Koopman and Samantha Holsenbeck in the 67th minute. Truett McConnell was able to score one more with two minutes left, but the final buzzer rang with the Lady Bulldogs leading, giving them the title.

With the win, TWU (15-2) earns an automatic bid to the 2025 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. The team will learn their of their opening round sit on Friday at 7:00 p.m.