BROWNS SUMMIT — An Ashleigh Harris goal 34 seconds into the match, followed by Abigail Lowry’s goal just over two minutes later was enough to hold off a Belmont Abbey second-half rally, as the UNC Pembroke soccer team was crowned Conference Carolinas Tournament champions once again with a 2-1 win over the Crusaders Sunday night in Browns Summit to take the league’s automatic qualifier berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Anna Grossheim and Mercy Bell recorded assists for the Black & Gold.
Lowry, Harris, Maria Cancio, Nicole Cook and Freya Lodge Whitham were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Harris taking home Most Outstanding Player honors.
The Braves (12-3-3, 8-1-3 CC) moved to 7-2 in the all-time series against the Crusaders (11-3-4, 4-4-4 CC). The win takes UNCP’s unbeaten streak out to 12 games, and the Braves have not tasted defeat since Sept. 19. UNCP is now 7-0 all-time in Conference Carolinas Tournament matches.
At the start of the match, Grossheim played a long ball ahead to Harris, who chested it down and one-touched it to the far post past the diving Crusaders goalkeeper to put the Braves ahead early.
Moments later, Lowry collected a Bell touch that deflected off the goalkeeper and fired a left-footed strike from 23 yards out into the back of the net to make it 2-0 UNCP.
Belmont Abbey’s Haley Long played a beautiful cross in the 49th minute to the head of Logan Parry, who redirected it past a diving Chiara Coppin to cut into the deficit.
Seniors Lowry and Harris combined for eight shots, to go along with their goals. Harris scored for the third-straight match, and has now tallied six goals in the last seven games.
Grossheim recorded her 34th career assist, while sophomore Mercy Bell collected her fourth of the season.
Coppin allowed one or fewer goals in a full-time appearance for the 39th time in her career.
The Black & Gold outshot their opponent for the 16th time in 18 matches this season.
All 11 starters played every minute of the Braves’ two Conference Carolinas Tournament matches.
UNCP will now await seeding for the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. Fans can watch the show at ncaa.com.
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