GOLDEN GLORY: Auburn University Power Soccer Captures National Championship in Fort Wayne After Unforgettable Season of Grit and Teamwork
In an inspiring culmination of months of relentless effort, perseverance, and unshakable team spirit, Auburn University’s power soccer team etched its name into the annals of collegiate sports history by clinching the 2025 United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) National Championship. Held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the event gathered the best and brightest in the sport, and Auburn stood out with their sheer dominance, strategic excellence, and emotional intensity. This victory was not just a display of athletic talent, but a powerful reminder of what inclusion, determination, and resilience truly look like in competitive sport.
For Auburn University, a school steeped in athletic tradition, this moment was especially golden. Power soccer, a competitive team sport designed for athletes who use power wheelchairs, has steadily grown in both popularity and recognition. However, it had never enjoyed this kind of spotlight at Auburn — until now. The Tigers’ remarkable title run brought not just a trophy home to Alabama, but also ignited a renewed sense of pride, visibility, and appreciation for adaptive sports across the entire Auburn community.
From the opening kickoff of the national tournament to the final whistle of the championship game, Auburn’s athletes demonstrated the kind of cohesion, discipline, and firepower that championship runs are made of. Their path to glory wasn’t just paved with wins, but with moments that defined character — thrilling comebacks, clutch goals, and iron-willed defensive stands.
Led by head coach Tyler Sanderson, a former power soccer athlete himself, the Tigers entered the tournament as underdogs in the national rankings, seeded fifth overall. However, anyone watching their play throughout the regular season knew they were a sleeping giant. The team boasted a blend of experience and youthful energy — veterans like co-captain Marcus Hale, who has competed in power soccer for over a decade, and freshmen like Aaliyah Jones, a fierce defender with a knack for reading the game.
Auburn’s journey to Fort Wayne began with a dramatic regular season. The Tigers finished second in their regional conference, with close contests against top-tier teams like Arizona State and Indiana. One particularly pivotal moment came mid-season when Auburn rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the University of Houston in overtime, a performance Coach Sanderson cited as the “turning point in their season.” It was there, he noted, that the team began to believe not just in their system — but in one another.
That sense of belief carried them through the grueling tournament bracket. In the quarterfinals, Auburn faced Texas Tech, a formidable squad with a reputation for aggressive offensive play. Auburn countered with smart possession, using quick passing and strategic spacing to break the Red Raiders’ press. Marcus Hale scored twice in the final five minutes to seal a 4-2 win, sending Auburn into the semifinals with growing momentum.
Their next matchup was against perennial powerhouse Arizona State. The Sun Devils were two-time defending national champions and had eliminated Auburn in the previous two seasons. But this year, things were different. Auburn came in with confidence, and more importantly, a game plan designed to neutralize Arizona’s offensive talisman, Julian Mendoza. It worked. Auburn’s defense held Mendoza to a single goal, while sophomore forward Benji Ramirez netted a hat-trick, lifting Auburn to a stunning 3-1 upset and punching their ticket to the national title match.
The final was a dramatic showdown with Indiana University, a team known for its defensive rigidity and transition speed. Thousands of fans packed into the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne for the final game, with Auburn supporters donning orange and blue in a vibrant show of support.
The championship game delivered on every front — intensity, tactical brilliance, and emotional swings. Auburn struck first with a powerful goal from Hale, only for Indiana to answer with two quick strikes before halftime. But the Tigers roared back in the second half. Aaliyah Jones scored the equalizer with a blistering strike from near midfield — her first goal of the entire tournament, and arguably the most crucial. The final blow came with just 27 seconds remaining. A fast break led by Ramirez found Hale on the left wing, who curved the ball perfectly around the goalkeeper to seal a 3-2 victory. The buzzer sounded, and the Tigers leapt into a joyous celebration that will be remembered for years.
Tears flowed freely from players, coaches, and families. For Coach Sanderson, it was a deeply personal moment. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 11, he began playing power soccer shortly after and credited the sport with changing his life. “This team means everything to me,” he said in a postgame interview. “What they did out there wasn’t just win a game. They changed the perception of what it means to be an athlete, to be a competitor, to be a champion.”
The significance of Auburn’s win extends far beyond the hardwood. It brought mainstream attention to power soccer, a sport too often overlooked despite its incredible athleticism, skill, and strategy. Auburn’s victory generated massive engagement on social media, with athletes from other programs, professional athletes, and Auburn alumni applauding the team’s grit and achievement. ESPN covered the game highlights in their nightly broadcast, and several major networks have since aired profiles on the players.
University President Dr. Christopher Roberts praised the team, stating, “This national championship isn’t just a milestone for Auburn Athletics — it’s a milestone for Auburn University. Our student-athletes in power soccer exemplify everything we value: hard work, inclusiveness, and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence.”
Plans are already in motion for a championship celebration parade on campus. The Auburn Student Government Association announced that the team will be honored during halftime of the first home football game of the 2025 season at Jordan-Hare Stadium. There is also discussion of building a dedicated adaptive sports training facility, a project that gained momentum after the team’s playoff run drew attention to their limited practice resources compared to other varsity programs.
Athletic Director John Cohen spoke candidly about the team’s impact: “They’ve not only earned our respect — they’ve changed how we see sports at Auburn. This isn’t just a power soccer story. It’s an Auburn story.”
Players like Aaliyah Jones hope the championship will inspire other young athletes with disabilities. “If you’re watching this and wondering if you belong in sports, the answer is yes,” she said in a national interview. “You belong. And we just proved that greatness has no limits.”
Now, as the confetti settles and the championship medals shine around their necks, the Tigers are already setting their sights on the future. The team will return most of its core players next season, and recruitment is expected to rise sharply thanks to their newfound fame and media presence. Coach Sanderson says they’re ready to build a dynasty.
“We’re not done,” he said with a grin. “We’ve shown the world what Auburn power soccer is all about. Now we defend it.”
For Auburn University, the 2025 power soccer national championship will be remembered not just for the wins and goals, but for the way it brought people together, challenged perceptions, and showcased the heart of true champions. From Fort Wayne to the Plains of Alabama, the echoes of “War Eagle” ring louder than ever — as the Tigers bask in the golden glory of an unforgettable title run.
