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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The UNC Pembroke women's soccer squad saw its 12-match unbeaten streak come to an end Friday afternoon, as the Saints of Flagler toppled the Braves 3-1 at Saints Field. The setback is UNCP's first in Peach Belt Conference (PBC) play this season.

The Braves (10-3-2, 8-1-2 PBC) suffer their first defeat since the second game of the season on Sept. 7 and now sit in a three-way tie for second in the conference standings. The Saints (7-4-3, 6-3-2 PBC) win their third-straight overall and clinch the No. 6-seed in the upcoming PBC Tournament, set to begin Wednesday. UNCP could be seeded anywhere from No. 2 to No. 5, depending on this weekend's results.

"I want to tip my cap to Flagler," head coach Lars Andersson said. "They are in the same situation that we're in, trying to make up a number of games that were postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. They showed up ready to play and we didn't, but that's on me as the coach."

The Black & Gold were on the board first for the 11th time in 15 contests this season, as sophomore Stacey Scott took a pass from classmate Jillian Robson in the 11th-minute and found the back of the net from outside the 18-yard box. It's Scott's team-leading sixth goal of the season and Robson's second assist.

The hosts tallied the next three scores, the first coming in the 32nd-minute on a penalty kick to send the game to halftime leveled at 1-1. Goals in the 47th- and 62nd-minutes extended the Flagler advantage to 3-1 and the Braves could only muster one shot from then on, despite the Saints playing with 10 after a red card in the 83rd-minute.

"We're running on fumes right now, but I believe in this team," Andersson said. "Due to the schedule, there's not much time to dwell on this loss. We have to put this behind us and move on."
It's just the second time this season UNCP freshman goalkeeper Gina Ryan has allowed multiple goals in a game, racking up four saves in the process. Scott and sophomores Christine Rolfes and Mackenzie Wright each attempted two shots Friday, accounting for six of the eight UNCP strikes.

Flagler outshot the Braves 11-8, including a 5-4 advantage in shots-on-goal, while UNCP took six corners to the hosts' five.

The season's final regular-season tilt is Sunday for the Black & Gold, a 1 p.m. battle with Young Harris at the YHC Soccer Field in the mountains of Georgia. The Mountain Lions (9-2-3, 8-2-1 PBC) are currently fifth in the league race, just one point behind the Braves. UNCP can clinch the No. 2-seed with a win Sunday, while a tie guarantees at least a No. 3-seed and possibly the No. 2-seed depending on the outcome of the North Georgia-Armstrong State contest. The Braves have never lost to Young Harris, holding a 5-0-0 series advantage.

"We have to bounce back from this and go play in a very tough environment at Young Harris," Andersson said. "After seeing this unbeaten streak come to an end, I believe we can get back to our winning ways Sunday. We still have a chance to host a PBC Tournament game and that's our goal."