GREENVILLE, S.C. – Two Conference Carolinas teams played in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship on Friday afternoon. Both Belmont Abbey College and Francis Marion University fell in their respective contests.

No. 4 Francis Marion vs. No. 5 Lander - BOX SCORE
Fourth-seeded Francis Marion took on fifth-seeded Lander University in the opening round, as the contest was scoreless at the half. Lander controlled play, outshooting the Patriots 10-3. Early in the second half, the Bearcats broke through as Claire Regnault's goal in the 52nd minute gave Lander a 1-0 lead.

The Patriots tried to find the equalizer, taking seven shots and placing two on frame, but both were turned away as they fell 1-0. Francis Marion ends the season with a 17-3 record, going 12-1 in Conference Carolinas play. The Patriots won the Conference Carolinas East Division and finished as tournament runner-up.

No. 4 Francis Marion vs. No. 5 Lander - BOX SCORE
In the following match, Belmont Abbey faced host and second-ranked Catawba College. Catawba seemed to control play in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Crusaders 11-2 with six shots on target. All six were turned away as the contest was scoreless at the break.

Catawba grabbed the lead on a Morgan Delair goal in the 48th minute, but Belmont Abbey responded with a Samantha Smith goal in the 58th minute. However, Bree Ehmer registered back-to-back tallies in the 76th and 78th minutes to give Catawba a 3-1 lead. The Crusaders couldn't overcome that deficit, falling 3-1. Belmont Abbey ends the season with a 16-5-1 record, going 11-1-1 in Conference Carolinas play. The Crusaders won the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division and the Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship title, their first since 2014.