Geneva, Ohio - The top-seeded Concordia Golden Eagles punched their ticket to the WWPA Championship match on Saturday with a dominant 15–5 semifinal victory over No. 3 Fresno Pacific, showcasing a balanced offense, lockdown defense, and another elite postseason performance from goalkeeper Pablo de Souza.
Concordia set the tone early, overwhelming the Sunbirds with pace, depth, and pressure at both ends of the pool. FPU managed to hang around in the opening minutes, but once the Golden Eagles settled in, the match quickly tilted in Concordia's favor.
Freshman Dimitrios Koritsas and attacker Hugo Wouters powered the offensive surge, combining for nine goals. Koritsas was nearly unstoppable inside, finishing with five goals, a steal, and relentless pressure that earned key exclusions. Wouters added four goals and two assists, navigating the Sunbird defense with ease and constantly jump-starting the attack.
Concordia's balanced scoring continued across the lineup. Sam Diamond (1 goal, 3 assists), Levi Riegelmann (1 goal, 2 assists), Carter Clenney (1 assist, 1 steal), and Charlie Johnson (1 assist) kept the ball moving, while Kai Young, Luc Chapman, Nicolas Fuchs, and Dylan Poladian each delivered goals that widened the margin and kept the offense humming.
But the most complete performance of the night may have come in the cage. Pablo de Souza, who has been a backbone for the Golden Eagles all season, delivered a stellar 10-save, 3-goal-against outing across 24 minutes. His anticipation and poise erased multiple high-percentage FPU looks and anchored a defensive unit that allowed just five goals total. Backup goalie Derek Maddox closed the final stretch with two more saves.
Defensively, Concordia's field unit was equally sharp. Oscar Garcia Blomback led the team with four steals, while Diamond, Koritsas, and Clenney added key disruptions that smothered FPU's offensive rhythm. The Sunbirds scored just twice in the second half as CUI tightened its press and dominated counterattack opportunities.
NEXT UP:
Concordia now advances to the WWPA Championship final, one win away from hoisting the trophy. With their offense firing, their defense suffocating, and de Souza in postseason form, the Golden Eagles will enter the title match with confidence and momentum firmly on their side. First sprint is scheduled for tomorrow, November 23rd at 10:00 AM vs TBD.
