GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas won a pair of games in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday. UNC Pembroke took a 1-0 double overtime win over Catawba College and Francis Marion University used an overtime goal to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne University 2-1.

No. 5 UNC Pembroke def. No. 4 Catawba 1-0 (2OT) - BOX SCORE
The opening 45 minutes was played even as both Catawba and UNC Pembroke posted seven shots. The Braves placed three shots on target, but all were turned away as the game was scoreless at the break. Catawba controlled play in the second half, taking 16 shots, including eight on target, but all were turned away by UNC Pembroke. The Braves placed three of their five second-half shots on frame, but all were turned away as the contest went to overtime scoreless.

UNC Pembroke put together the best chance in the first extra session on a shot from Klara Persson on a cross with 2:25 remaining. Catawba placed a shot off target in the final minute, sending the game to a second overtime. Five minutes into the second overtime, Willow Price picked up a steal at midfield and drove down the field to find Hailey Jones who deflected the ball inside the far post to give the Braves the 1-0 win.

The Braves will play top seed and host Columbus State University in the second round on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

That marks the league’s first NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship win since 2013 when Belmont Abey topped Pfeiffer 3-0. It also marked the first win for the Braves in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship since 2010.

No. 3 Francis Marion def. No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne 2-1 (OT) – BOX SCORE
The contest went to the half scoreless with Lenoir-Rhyne outshooting Francis Marion 5-2, but the Patriots came up with four saves to keep the Bears off the scoreboard. The Bears continued the pressure in the second half, but Camryn Bliss gave Francis Marion a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 65th minute with an assist from Matea Bradfield. However, the Bears evened the tally in the 75th minute. Neither team was able to add another, sending the contest to over time knotted 1-1.

The Patriots made a pair of saves in the extra session before a counterattack in the final minute. Bradfield found Tehya Dave’, punched the ball past the keeper, giving the Patriots the 2-1 victory.

Francis Marion will now face second seed and host North Georgia on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

The win marked the first NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship win in program history and the first time Conference Carolinas has won more than one game in a year in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.

No. 2 North Georgia def. No. 7 Lees-McRae 4-1 – BOX SCORE
North Georgia grabbed the lead with goals in the 22nd and 24th minute before adding another in the 44th minute to take a 3-0 lead into the half. The Nighthawks made it a 4-0 lead with another tally in the 53rd minute. Ezra Carpenter got Lees-McRae on the board in the 84th minute as the Bobcats fell 4-1.

Lees-McRae ends the season with a record of 10-4-5.