GREENVILLE, S.C. – The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship opened on Wednesday with a pair of overtime games, including one that came down to penalty kicks. Three of the four top seeds and hosts advanced with penalty kicks being the difference in the other.
No. 7 Barton def. No. 10 Emmanuel 3-2 (F/OT)
Barton jumped ahead late in the first half when Julia Morales found the back of the net in the 32nd minute. The score remained the same until Emmanuel scored back-to-back goals in the 69th and 77th minutes. Jillian Aldrich scored the first goal before Leah Chavez gave the Lions the lead. However, Aubrey Mayberry evened the score for Barton in the 86th minute, sending the contest to overtime. Five minutes into the extra session, Morales connected again, this time off a corner kick from Macey Helmstetter, giving the Bulldogs the 3-2 win.
Barton advances to the quarterfinals to face second seed Francis Marion University on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Florence, South Carolina.
No. 9 North Greenville def. No. 8 Converse 1-1 (4-3 PKs)
All of the scoring happened within three minutes as Hayleigh Winkler gave Converse the lead with a goal in the 61st minute with an assist to Sierra Criner. However, North Greenville responded in the 63rd minute when Valeria Hernandez found Isabella Gyurich, who evened the score at 1-1. The tally remained the same through regulation and two overtime periods.
The first North Greenville penalty kick was off the mark, but the Trailblazers converted on their next four opportunities. Converse missed their third attempt but converted on the fourth. However, the Valkyries were off the mark on the fifth attempt as North Greenville advanced 4-3 on penalty kicks.
North Greenville advances to the quarterfinals to face top seed UNC Pembroke on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Pembroke, North Carolina.
No. 5 Belmont Abbey def. No. 12 Southern Wesleyan 4-1
A flurry of Belmont Abbey goals in the middle of the first half gave the Crusaders a 3-0 lead at the half. The Crusaders posted goals in the 21st, 34th and 35th minutes from Caroline Roche, Hanan Doerr and Mya Drinkwater. Roche added another in the 54th minute, extending the Belmont Abbey lead to 4-0. However, Brianna Gonzalez cut the Southern Wesleyan deficit to 4-1 with a goal in the 72nd minute. That score held for the Crusaders to advance to the quarterfinals.
Belmont Abbey advances to the quarterfinals to face fourth seed Young Harris College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Young Harris, Georgia.
No. 6 Mount Olive def. No. 11 Chowan 2-0
Mount Olive scored on both sides of halftime to hold a 2-0 advantage over Chowan. Ana Caldentey netted the first goal in the 42nd minute before Malia Acevedo extended the lead in the 54th minute. That was all Mount Olive needed to advance with the 2-0 victory.
Mount Olive advances to the quarterfinals to face third seed Lees-McRae College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Banner Elk, North Carolina
Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network powered by Hudl at ConferenceCarolinas.com/watch. Fans can purchase an all-tournament pass for $25 or a daily pass for $10.
Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park are available at the links below.
CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE | BRACKET | LIVE VIDEO | FINAL SITE TICKETS
2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, October 28 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 9 North Greenville at No. 8 Converse, 1-1 (4-3 PKs)
BOX SCORE
No. 5 Belmont Abbey def. No. 12 Southern Wesleyan, 4-1
BOX SCORE
No. 6 Mount Olive def. No. 11 Chowan, 2-0
BOX SCORE
No. 7 Barton def. No. 10 Emmanuel, 3-2 (F/OT)
BOX SCORE
Quarterfinals – Saturday, October 31 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 9 North Greenville at No. 1 UNC Pembroke, 4:00 p.m.
No. 5 Belmont Abbey at No. 4 Young Harris, 4:00 p.m.
No. 6 Mount Olive at No. 3 Lees-McRae, 3:00 p.m.
No. 7 Barton at No. 2 Francis Marion, 2:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, November 5 (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 – Saturday, November 7 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2, 2:00 p.m.