Barton, Francis Marion Advance to Semifinals of Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship

11/4/2023 4:47:16 PM

WILSON, N.C./FLORENCE, S.C.– The 2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship quarterfinals were contested on Saturday afternoon and fourth-seeded Barton and third-seeded Francis Marion each advanced to the semifinals.

In Wilson, it was the Bulldogs who scored the lone goal of the match to defeat fifth-seeded Mount Olive 1-0 at Electric Supply Company Field at Truist Stadium. Just 7:05 into the game, Taylor Smith headed home a corner kick from Kassie Krul for the 1-0 advantage and Barton keeper Cara Davis made eight saves, including six in the second half, to secure the win. Mount Olive outshot Barton 28-14 and had nine shots on goal to the Bulldogs five. The Trojans also had nine corner kicks to one for Barton.

In Florence, the host Patriots outlasted sixth-seeded North Greenville 1-0 at Hartzler Soccer Field. It was an even first half, but in the 59th minute, Linsey Downey ran on to a long pass and drilled a shot from the top of the box past the keeper for the game-winner. The Crusaders outshot the Patriots 8-5 in the contest but each team had two shots on goal.

Barton advances to play top-seeded UNC Pembroke in the semifinals at the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. Francis Marion will face No. 2 Belmont Abbey in the second women’s semifinal on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and BlueFrame at conferencecarolinasdn.com. Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park are available here.

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, November 1 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#4 Barton def. #9 Young Harris, 4-0
#5 Mount Olive def. #8 Lees-McRae, 1-0
#6 North Greenville def. #7 Chowan, 2-0

Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 4 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#4 Barton def. #5 Mount Olive, 1-0
#3 Francis Marion def. #6 North Greenville, 1-0

Semifinals – Friday, November 10 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
#4 Barton vs. #1 UNC Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.
#3 Francis Marion vs. #2 Belmont Abbey, 7:00 p.m.

Final – Sunday, November 12 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2, 4 p.m.