BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. – For the second time in three years, Francis Marion University captured the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship. The Patriots topped Lees-McRae College 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Second seed Lees-McRae and fifth seed Francis Marion were scoreless through 45 minutes as the Patriots controlled play for the majority of the half. Francis Marion outshot Lees-McRae 8-4 in each half.
It wasn’t until early in the second half, the 51st minute when the Patriots broke through. Estaban Quintero played a ball to Lucas Villa who slid the ball inside the left post to give Francis Marion the 1-0 lead.
Playing a man down for nearly the final 30 minutes, Lees-McRae tried to net the equalizer with their best chance coming in the 88th minute when Cristiano Leite hit the crossbar. That was the final chance Lees-McRae had as the Patriots took the 1-0 victory.
For Francis Marion, this is their second title with their last coming in 2024.
Francis Marion earns the league’s automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship. The selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m.
2026 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
MVP – Lucas Vila, Francis Marion
Vicent Sanchis, Francis Marion
Tim Wilkening, Francis Marion
Filippo Noseda, Francis Marion
Santiago Sanchez, Francis Marion
Oskar Lindegard, Lees-McRae
Sean McDonald, Lees-McRae
Callum Bonny, Lees-McRae
Jesper Schierholz, Converse
Hayden Summerfield, Barton
Builder Services of North Carolina Elite 26 Award
Jesper Schierholz, Converse
CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE | BRACKET | LIVE VIDEO | FINAL SITE TICKETS
2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, October 28 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 8 Barton def. No. 9 Ferrum, 2-0
BOX SCORE
No. 5 Francis Marion def. No. 12 King, 3-0
BOX SCORE
No. 6 Emmanuel def. No. 11 Belmont Abbey, 2-2 (8-7 PKs)
BOX SCORE
No. 7 North Greenville def. No. 10 Southern Wesleyan, 2-1
BOX SCORE
Quarterfinals – Saturday, October 31 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 8 Barton def. No. 1 Young Harris, 2-1
BOX SCORE
No. 5 Francis Marion def. No. 4 Chowan, 2-1
BOX SCORE
No. 3 Converse def. No. 6 Emmanuel, 1-0
BOX SCORE
No. 2 Lees-McRae def. No. 7 North Greenville, 1-0
BOX SCORE
Semifinals – Friday, November 6 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
No. 5 Francis Marion def. No. 8 Barton vs., 1-0
BOX SCORE
No. 2 Lees-McRae vs. No. 3 Converse, 3-0
BOX SCORE
Final – Sunday, November 8 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
No. 5 Francis Marion def. No. 2 Lees-McRae, 1-0
BOX SCORE