Eagles lose on last-second goal in Region 10 Championship

WILMINGTON, NC – Wake Tech Women's Soccer narrowly fell to Cape Fear in the Region 10 Division II Championship on Saturday, with the Sea Devils scoring the first and only goal in the contest with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation. Cape Fear advances to the South Atlantic District Championship, where they will face Pensacola State with a spot in the NJCAA Division II Tournament on the line.

It was Region 10 Player of the Year Maya McDonald who headed home the corner in a crowded box in the dying moments of the second half. She was positioned at the far post and headed it across the goal to find the bottom corner.

The Eagles' game plan was to contain the Cape Fear attack. The Sea Devils came into Saturday averaging 4.8 goals per match. Throughout the match, Wake Tech only mustered three shot attempts, none of them on goal.

Goalkeeper Jeylin Perla had a strong showing, finishing the game with five saves and just the one goal allowed. It was her third game this season with at least five saves.

Saturday was only the second time since September 8 that Cape Fear was held to under five goals. It was a defensive improvement from the first two matches against Cape Fear during the regular season in which the Sea Devils outscored the Eagles 12-2.

Sophomore forward Emily Parker finishes the season as the team's leading scorer, netting 11 goals and adding 9 assists. While she couldn't find the back of the net on Saturday, she led the team in shot attempts (2). She finishes her Wake Tech career with 56 points.

While the Eagles are still searching for their first Region 10 title, this was their strongest showing in the conference tournament to date. In 2021 they beat Louisburg 3-2 in the semifinal at WRAL Soccer Park before falling 6-0 to Cape Fear. This year, they routed Louisburg 4-1 in the semifinal and took Cape Fear to the brink in the championship.