GREENVILLE, S.C. – The 2025 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship started on Wednesday with four tight contests. Three games were decided by one goal and one finished in overtime.
No. 8 Converse def. No. 9 North Greenville 2-0
The contest was even, but the Valkyries found the back of the net early in each half. Giulia Rodrigues scored in the 16th minute on an assist from Samantha Novik to give Converse the lead. Julia Salo made a pair of saves in the opening half for Converse to keep North Greenville off the scoreboard.
Kathryn Hoffman then extended the Converse lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 50th minute. Her shot went off the bottom of the crossbar and down, but behind the line. The Converse defense only allowed four shots in the second half, and none were on goal to take the game 2-0.
Converse now faces top seed and 21st-ranked Francis Marion University at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in Florence, South Carolina.
No. 7 Lees-McRae def. No. 10 Southern Wesleyan 2-1
The first half was played tight as Southern Wesleyan seemed to have the upper hand, taking five shots and placing three on frame. However, Laura Walker came up with three saves to keep the shutout intact. Ainsley Dial then setup a goal by Kylie Gutierrez that gave Lees-McRae a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute. The Bobcats added another goal in the 77th minute from Brooke Allen.
The Warriors cut the deficit in half as Karina Pashkovets scored on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. However, Lees-McRae held on for the 2-1 victory.
The Bobcats advance to take on second seed Belmont Abbey College at 2:00 p.m. in Belmont, North Carolina.
No. 11 Ferrum def. No. 6 Chowan 3-2 (OT)
Ferrum grabbed the lead on a Amber Nichole Gillen goal with an assist to Breanna Herlihy in the 37th minute. The Panthers outshot Chowan 9-4 in the opening 45 minutes and held the 1-0 advantage. The tide turned in the second half as Chowan posted 11 shots while holding the Panthers to six. The Hawks netted the equalizer in the 61st minute as Riley Donnelly scored with an assist to Amy Cotton.
However, the match wasn’t tied for long as Ferrum responded in the 64th minute as Gillen scored her second of the contest. Chowan again had an answer, this time Donnelly and Cotton found Laure Hulme who found the back of the net in the 70th minute to even the score.
The score remained knotted at two through 90 minutes, sending the game to overtime. A Chowan foul setup a Ferrum free kick in the 93rd minute. Summer Stevens ripped her shot into the upper right 90, giving the Panthers the 3-2 victory.
Ferrum travels to third-seed UNC Pembroke on Saturday to take on the Braves at 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Young Harris def. No. 12 Mount Olive 1-0
The first half was played even as Mount Olive took five shots and Young Harris accounted for four shots. Both of the Mountain Lions shots on frame were saved, and came up with three saves on the defensive end to keep the game scoreless.
Mount Olive again outshot Young Harris in the second half, taking seven shots and allowing only three. Emily Janz came up with four saves in the second half to keep the shutout intact. The Young Harris offense broke through in the 69th minute as Meghan Goolsby found Sunny Bowlin-Stacy who ripped her shot into the lower center of the goal. Janz made that standup, giving Young Harris the 1-0 victory.
Young Harris takes on fourth seed Emmanuel University at 5:30 p.m. in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
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2025 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, November 5 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 8 Converse def. No. 9 North Greenville 2-0
BOX SCORE
No. 5 Young Harris def. No. 12 Mount Olive 1-0
BOX SCORE
No. 11 Ferrum def. No. 6 Chowan 3-2 (OT)
BOX SCORE
No. 7 Lees-McRae def. No. 10 Southern Wesleyan 2-1
BOX SCORE
Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 8 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 8 Converse at No. 1 Francis Marion, 4:00 p.m.
No. 5 Young Harris at No. 4 Emmanuel, 5:30 p.m.
No. 11 Ferrum at No. 3 UNC Pembroke, 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Lees-McRae at No. 2 Belmont Abbey, 2:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, November 14 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
Winner of 1-8-9 vs. Winner of 4-5-12, 3:30 p.m.
Winner of 3-6-11 vs. Winner of 2-7-10, 6:30 p.m.
Final – Sunday, November 16 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2, 2:00 p.m.