Gold Nuggets defeat Tennessee Wesleyan 3-2 at NAIA nationals

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — It was another first for Xavier University of Louisiana women’s soccer in its debut season.

Britni Belmonte’s goal from 35 yards out in the 80th minute Thursday evening lifted the Gold Nuggets to a 3-2 victory against Tennessee Wesleyan in the opening round of NAIA nationals.

XULA (13-5) will play No. 1 overall seed William Carey (20-0) in the second round at 1 p.m. Saturday at Carey’s Danny Owens Field. Carey had a first-round bye.

The victory was XULA’s newest delight in a three-month whirlwind that included a Red River Athletic Conference regular-season championship — the Gold Nuggets, as you would expect, were picked 11th out of 14 teams in the preseason coaches poll — and an automatic bid to nationals.

XULA never trailed. Julia de Souza scored in 26th minute with an assist from Luci Schroeder, and Faye Butterworth scored on a left-side free kick in the 72nd minute.