FOLEY, Ala. – James Madison, Old Dominion, App State and South Alabama secured spots in the semifinals of the 2026 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Championship at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex on Monday.
Third-seeded App State scored a golden goal in the first overtime to take down No. 6 seed Louisiana, 1-0, before No. 2 seed Old Dominion rolled past No. 7 Marshall, 5-1, in the first quarterfinal matches of the day. Fifth-seeded South Alabama hung on for a 2-1 win over No. 4 seed Georgia State, before top-seeded James Madison defeated No. 8 seed Southern Miss, 2-0.
Semifinal matchups will kick off Wednesday, November 11 with App State facing App State at 4 p.m. before James Madison and South Alabama meet at 7 p.m.
(3) App State 1, (6) Louisiana 0 (OT) (Box Score)
After a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation and scoring opportunities at a premium, the Mountaineers earned a set piece opportunity with a free kick in Ragin’ Cajuns territory in the 96th minute.
App State second-year defender Maddie Williams lofted the kick into the box, where fourth-year midfielder Olivia Simon snuck behind Louisiana’s back line and re-directed a header into the back of the net to send the Mountaineers to the tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 2016.
Louisiana held an 8-5 advantage in total shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks despite App State ranking first nationally in the category.
(2) Old Dominion 5, (7) Marshall 1 (Box Score)
After surrendering the first goal of the match in the fourth minute, Old Dominion responded with four first-half goals from three different players in a span of less than 27 minutes to propel its way to the semifinals for the fifth straight season.
Marshall took a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the match when fourth-year midfielder Larissa Ozorio sent a cross from just inside the box along the near side of the field into the center of the defense where fifth-year midfielder Luiza Travassos headed the pass into the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
The Herd earned another golden scoring opportunity moments later with a free kick just outside the box but were unable to capitalize. The Monarchs took control from that point, as fourth-year midfielder Riley Mullen scored a pair of goals less than 90 seconds apart in the 16th and 17th minutes, respectively, to put ODU in front, 2-1.
Old Dominion extended its advantage to 3-1 in the 34th minute when fourth-year center back Ashlynn Kulha touched a loose ball in the box off a corner kick to second-year defender Dylan McEntarfer who touched a shot with her left foot into the back of the net. Third-year forward Hannah Morgan also took advantage of a loose ball in Marshall’s goal box from near-point-blank range in the 42nd minute, as she made a sliding kick into the right pocket of the net in extend the advantage to 4-1.
The Monarchs added the fifth tally of the match just over four minutes into the second half when fourth year defender Sydney Somers got on the attack. Somers delivered a pass from inside the box on the far endline to the top of the box, finding second-year forward Ashley Ecomomopoulos who fired a shot that deflected off the goalkeeper’s hands and bounced past the goal line.
Old Dominion outshot Marshall, 16-6, overall and held a 7-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
(5) South Alabama 2, (4) Georgia State 1 (Box Score)
South Alabama scored the first goal of the match in the 17th minute when third-year forward Zumiyah Hill ran through the teeth of the Panthers’ defense before finishing a shot with her right foot.
Georgia State put four shots on goal despite just two by the Jaguars, but South Alabama took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Jags doubled their lead in the 60th minute on a corner kick by second-year forward Sofia Ferrante that was delivered directly between Hill and the goalkeeper, but it was Hill’s forward momentum that pushed the ball across the goal line to increase the advantage to 2-0.
The Panthers took advantage of a key opportunity just three minutes later when fourth-year striker Aaliyah Faddoul lofted a corner kick into the box. Fourth-year defender Naiya McFarlane headed the cross toward the net where freshman defender Abby Myers fired a shot into the nylon with her right foot to trim the deficit in half, 2-1.
The Jaguars locked down on defense during the final 10 minutes of action to hold off valiant attacking efforts by the Panthers to close out the win and reach the semifinals for the second year in a row.
(1) James Madison 2, (8) Southern Miss 0 (Box Score)
The James Madison offense applied significant pressure to Southern Miss’ defense early in the match before executing early in the 26th minute. Second-year defender Selma Rajakangas sent a pass up the right sideline to fourth-year forward Ginny Lackey who placed a cross into the center of the box where fourth-year midfielder Ellie Farrell one-timed a shot past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
The Dukes controlled possession for a majority of the second half and doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 76th minute on a cross from the far sideline by third-year forward Lauren Carpenter into the box. The pass was headed and redirected into the back of the net by third-year forward Makenna Kirk.
James Madison advances to their fourth semifinal appearance in the last five seasons.
2026 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals – Monday, November 9
Match 1 – (3) App State def. (6) Louisiana, 1-0
Match 2 – (2) Old Dominion def. (7) Marshall, 5-1
Match 3 – (5) South Alabama def. (4) Georgia State, 2-1
Match 4 – (1) James Madison def. (8) Southern Miss, 2-0
Semifinals – Wednesday, November 11
Match 5 – (2) Old Dominion vs. (3) App State, 4 p.m. CT
Match 6 – (1) James Madison vs. (5) South Alabama, 7 p.m. CT
Championship – Saturday, November 14
Match 7 – Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 7 p.m. CT