AYIA NAPA, Cyprus -- Samford soccer player Jermaine Seoposenwe is competing in the 2015 Cyprus Cup with her native country of South Africa from March 2-12, and has immediately made a huge impact on the Banyana Banyana squad as she scored the team's game-winning goal in its 1-0 victory over Belgium.
 
The Cyprus Cup is a world-class, 12-team competition being held at the Tasos Markou, Paralimni Stadium in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
 
Seoposenwe scored the only goal of the match in the first half, sealing the much-needed win for South Africa head coach Vera Pauw's charges.
 
Pauw made two changes to the starting team that played against Mexico on Wednesday. USA-based Seoposenwe, coming for Sannah Mollo who was injured in the last match, started upfront with Portia Modise, while former U/20 National Team player, Kelso Peskin, started at right back ahead of Lebogang Ramalepe.
 
The South African ladies started the stronger between the two countries, with Seoposenwe's header hitting the cross bar just three minutes into the match.
 
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana got another chance in the 18th minute - after a great build-up, Modise received a pass from Refiloe Jane in the box, but was cleared for a corner before she could shoot into goal.
 
Seoposenwe then made amends for her earlier chance - after comfortably controlling the ball in the box in the 21st minute, she hit the back of the net. This was her first goal since returning to the National Team under Pauw.
 
While they were full of running, Belgium did not pose much of a threat for Banyana Banyana as captain Janine Van Wyk and her fellow defenders were able to easily deal with their attacking players. The Europeans got a good chance in the 31st minute, but with a solid defense line, Roxanne Barker made a comfortable save in Banyana Banyana goals.
 
Leandra Smeda came close to registering her name on the score sheet in the 36th minute, but her effort went just inches wide-off the goal post.
 
The South Africans kept pushing forward in search of another goal, with Modise and Jane coming close to extending the lead just before the break.
 
Banyana Banyana continued from where they left off in the second half, with Seoposenwe creating havoc upfront for the Belgian defenders.
 
Later, it was Amanda Dlamini's chance in the 73rd minute that nearly went in – and with the goalkeeper well-beaten, only the upright denied South Africa their second goal.
 
In the dying minutes of the match, Belgium came hard at Banyana Banyana and Barker did well to retain her team's lead when she parried a dangerous-looking shot for a corner. A minute later, Lebogang Ramalepe cleared off the line.
 
During the referee's optional time, the Belgian ladies threw more bodies forward in search of an equalizer, forcing Barker to make a crucial save to help South Africa hold on to their lead.
 
It was a much-improved performance from the South African Senior Women's National Team, and a well-deserved win in a hard-fought encounter.
 
Seoposenwe, Samford's highly-decorated native of Cape Town, South Africa, is widely regarded as one of the best young soccer players in her home country. She is a member of the nation's prestigious Banyana Banyana squad that is preparing for qualifying matches in both the All Africa Games and the Olympics.
 
Seoposenwe was a member of South Africa's U17 World Cup squad and scored a goal and tacked on an assist against South Korea on Sept. 5, 2010. She also scored a goal against perennial powerhouse Germany in another World Cup qualifying match held at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 8, 2010.
 
Additionally, Seoposenwe was selected in 2012 to join the South African Senior Women's National Team, which featured the best 22 players in the nation. She was also named South Africa's Young Player of the Year in 2010 by the South African Football Association.
 
Last season, in her sophomore year at Samford, Seoposenwe led the team with 13 assists and scored nine goals, which ranked second on the squad. She set the school's all-time single-season record in points with 31 and surpassed former Bulldog-great Marian Wagner, who set the previous mark in 2002. Seoposenwe also set the school's single-season assist record with 13.
 
The annual 12-nation Cyprus Cup runs from March 2–12, and Banyana Banyana has been drawn in Group C together with Belgium, Czech Republic and Mexico. The Group will be based in Ayia Napa.
 
Group A is made up of Canada, Italy, Korea Republic and Scotland while Group B is comprised of Australia, England, Finland and Netherlands. The final two groups will be based in Larnaca.
 
CYPRUS WOMEN'S CUP
March 2–12, 2015
 
Group A – Larnaca
Canada
Italy
Republic of Korea
Scotland
 
Group B – Larnaca
Australia
England
Finland
Netherlands
 
Group C – Ayia Napa
Belgium
Czech Republic
Mexico
South Africa