TWU Collects Women's Soccer Tournament Championship

CLEVELAND, Ga. - Three second-half goals propelled No. 2 seed Tennessee Wesleyan past top-seeded Truett McConnell in the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday.

Tennessee Wesleyan turned a 1-1 halftime score into a 4-2 victory to claim its first tournament crown since 2017.

With the tournament championship win, Tennessee Wesleyan secured an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Truett McConnell earned one as the regular-season champion.

Julia Starchl put Tennessee Wesleyan up 2-1 in the 51st minute, and Addison Smith found the back of the net in the 57th minute for a 3-1 advantage. In the 68th minute, Valerie Koopman set up Jenna Vest to increase the margin to 4-1.

Annabel Trauschke scored in the 89th minute to cut the deficit to 4-2, but it was too little, too late as Tennessee Wesleyan claimed the title.

Marta Hernan of Tennessee Wesleyan was named the Tournament MVP. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Sam Holsenbeck, Stina Braun, and Smith of Tennessee Wesleyan; Trauschke, Erin Ward, and Marisol Esparza of Truett McConnell; Marisa Dill and Mazzie Leos of Columbia International; and Katelyn Penner and Lauren Hawkley of Milligan.

The NAIA National Championship Tournament bracket will be announced at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 14.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Oct. 28 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 1 - No. 7 Brenau (9-7-1) def. No. 10 Johnson (5-11-1), 1-0 (box)
Game 2 - No. 8 Montreat (8-8-1) def. No. 9 Spartanburg Methodist (6-9-4), 3-0 (box)

Saturday, Nov. 1 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 3 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (17-0-1) def. No. 8 Montreat (8-9-1), 2-0 (box)
Game 4 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-2-0) def. No. 7 Brenau (9-8-1), 1-0 (box)
Game 5 - No. 3 Milligan (11-4-3) def. No. 6 Pikeville (9-5-3), 3-2 (OT) (box)
Game 6 - No. 4 Columbia International (13-4-1) def. No. 5 Reinhardt (8-6-2), 2-0 (box)

Tuesday, Nov. 4 (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 7 - No. 1 Truett McConnell (18-0-1) def. No. 4 Columbia International (13-5-1), 3-1 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (14-2-0) def. No. 3 Milligan (11-5-3), 1-0 (box)

Saturday, Nov. 8 - Championship Game (at the higher seed's home site)
Game 9 - No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (15-2-0) def. No. 1 Truett McConnell (18-1-1), 4-2 (box)