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PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke women's soccer squad took the lid off Peach Belt Conference (PBC) play Wednesday afternoon, and for the sixth-consecutive season came out on top in the league opener, a 3-0 victory over Clayton State in rainy conditions at Varsity Grounds.

The Braves (3-2, 1-0 PBC) have now rattled off three-straight wins, holding their opponent scoreless in all three. The Lakers (4-2, 1-1 PBC) failed to find the back of the net for the first time this season, despite out shooting UNCP, 16-13.

The Black & Gold struck first just 45 seconds into the match when Carly Rochelle took advantage of a Carolina Sanchez shot-on-goal, putting her foot into the rebound and past the goalkeeper. It was Rochelle's first goal of the season and the first assist for Sanchez.

After holding onto the 1-0 advantage through halftime, Kristina Stevenson added an insurance goal for UNCP in the 49th minute, a strike that beat the keeper in the top-left corner from 23 yards out.

Rochelle put a stamp on the match with her second goal in the 60th minute, taking on the goalkeeper one-on-one after some shifty moves through the Laker defense.

Rochelle converted on two of her four shot attempts, while Katie Watkins, Stacey Scott, Kate Weisner and Mackenzie Wright each notched two shots. 

The Braves put 12 of their 13 shots on goal, while Clayton State fired six of 16 on net. Freshman keeper Gina Ryan recorded her third shutout of the season for UNCP, the only netminder in the PBC with more than two. Her .944 save percentage and 0.22 goals against average also lead the conference by a wide margin.

UNCP returns to the pitch at Varsity Grounds Saturday when ninth-ranked Columbus State (4-1, 1-0 PBC) travels to Pembroke. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Cougars hold a 16-2-1 advantage in the series and have bested the Braves in the last eight meetings. The last UNCP victory came in 2011, a 1-0 overtime win over the then-No. 14 Cougars.