CUTHBERT, Ga. – The Fighting Tigers traveled to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Monday, Oct. 26, for their rescheduled season finale against No. 11 William Carey University. Despite a hard-fought effort against one of the nation's top-ranked programs, Andrew fell to the Crusaders, 6-0, bringing its inaugural NAIA season to a close.
Last Game Review vs. No. 11 William Carey (Miss.)
The Fighting Tigers closed the season on an 11-match skid dating back to Sept. 19 against Point University.
Andrew struggled to generate offensive opportunities in Monday's finale, recording just three shots, including one on goal. William Carey controlled the offensive tempo throughout the match, finishing with 60 shots, 31 of which were on goal.
Despite the loss, goalkeeper
Teagan Paulo delivered another standout performance in front of the net. In 80 minutes of action, Paulo recorded a season-high 24 saves, marking his sixth match with double-digit saves this season.
Paulo finished the year with 152 saves and a 71.5% save percentage. His 152 saves led the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), while his save percentage ranked sixth in the conference.
This Season on the Pitch
The 2026 season marked Andrew College Men's Soccer's first year competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
The Fighting Tigers finished their inaugural NAIA campaign with a 2-16 overall record, including two victories at Hord Complex Field. Despite their efforts, Andrew was unable to secure its first conference win as a member of the SSAC.
Throughout the season, the Fighting Tigers showed flashes of strong defensive play but struggled to establish consistency on the offensive end. Over their final 11 matches, Andrew managed just six goals and was held scoreless six times.
Although the season presented its share of challenges, the Fighting Tigers gained valuable experience competing against conference opponents and nationally ranked programs.
Season Highlights
Despite finishing with a record below expectations, the Fighting Tigers celebrated several milestones throughout their inaugural NAIA campaign.
Andrew secured the first victory of Head Coach
Carnell Learmond's tenure on Sept. 3, defeating Florida College, 2-0. The victory featured the first goals of the season from Captain Dumisani Ziyaya and
Paul Coaxum.
The Fighting Tigers earned their second and final victory of the year against Talladega College, recording a 4-0 shutout win at Hord Complex Field. Four different players found the back of the net, including Captain
Ethan Friday,
Manuel Lopez,
Omer-Eloi Pasi and
Rickey Vaughn.
Offensively, Lopez and
Giovanni Alquicira finished tied for the team lead with three goals apiece, followed by Pasi and Ziyaya with two each.
Alquicira also recorded Andrew's lone multi-goal performance of the season, scoring twice against Xavier University of Louisiana on Oct. 8.
With their first NAIA and SSAC season officially in the books, the Fighting Tigers will look to build on the experience gained throughout the 2026 campaign. Learmond and his squad now turn their attention toward 2027, aiming to take the next step in the program's development.
Located in Cuthbert, Georgia, Andrew College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Fighting Tigers sponsor 18 sports and compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
