Belmont Abbey, UNC Pembroke Advance to Semifinals of 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship

10/29/2022 10:24:33 PM

BANNER ELK, N.C./PEMBROKE, N.C. – The 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship has its four semifinalists after a sensational Saturday of quarterfinal play.

In the first match of the day, fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey scored three second-half goals to upset fourth-seeded Lees-McRae. Third-seeded UNC Pembroke and sixth-seeded Emmanuel played an instant classic with the Braves advancing with a 5-4 advantage in penalty kicks.

Lees-McRae’s Kat Stiles fed Taylor Barrineau for the game's first goal to give the Bobcats the advantage in the first quarterfinal on Saturday. Six minutes later, Goose Andrews drew the equalizer for Belmont Abbey on a pass from Morgan Farrar. Mia Muckenthaler gave the visitors the lead in the 62nd minute only to see Lees-McRae get the equalizer in the 64th minute as Alexa Todd found Mawi Priscilla for the 2-2 tie. Less than a minute later, Muckenthaler assisted Gabriela Enciso for what proved to be the game-winner. Sabrina Cunha added an insurance goal in the 68th minute as the Crusaders upset the Bobcats, 4-2.

It was Emmanuel that struck first in the second quarterfinal on Saturday. After a failed Braves’ corner kick, Emmanuel successfully countered as Rachel Wegesend possessed the ball over midfield, dropped it to Elizabeth Barnhart and then ran onto the Barnhart pass in the box and chipped it over the keeper for the 1-0 lead. UNC Pembroke found the equalizer with just 41 seconds left in regulation as Ashleigh Harris dribbled into the left side of the box and drilled a shot into the far post and just past the keeper. The two teams could not find a goal in the two overtime periods to send the game into penalty kicks with UNC Pembroke capturing the thrilling 5-4 advantage in the spot kicks.

The semifinals of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit N.C. with fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey battling top-seeded North Greenville. Third-seeded UNC Pembroke will face second-seeded Mount Olive at 1:30 p.m. in the second semifinal.

The final of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 at the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park.

2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, October 26 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#5 Belmont Abbey def. #8 Chowan, 2-0 (Box Score)
#6 Emmanuel def. #7 Barton, 2-0 (Box Score)

Quarterfinals – Saturday, October 29 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#5 Belmont Abbey def. #4 Lees-McRae, 4-2 (Box Score)
#3 UNC Pembroke 1, #6 Emmanuel 1 – UNC Pembroke Advanced 5-4 on Penalty Kicks (Box Score)

Semifinals – Friday, November 4 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit N.C.)
#5 Belmont Abbey vs. #1 North Greenville, 11:00 a.m.
#3 UNC Pembroke vs. #2 Mount Olive, 1:30 p.m.

Final – Sunday, November 6 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit N.C.)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2, 1 p.m.