INDIANAPOLIS – Sporting an automatic berth for the first time in program history by virtue of its first-ever Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament title on Sunday afternoon, the UNC Pembroke soccer team learned of its path in the NCAA Tournament Monday evening.

After becoming the first PBC team since 2003 to run through the league tournament without allowing a goal, the fourth-seeded Braves (15-4-1) will pack up their show and head to Jefferson City, Tennessee this weekend for the first two rounds of the Carson-Newman-hosted half of the NCAA Southeast Regional at McCown Field. UNCP will open the tournament against fifth-seeded Queens (11-2-3) in Friday's opening round at 2 p.m.

The Braves and Royals have met five times in series history, with UNCP winning the first four meetings by a combined 19-2 score before Queens snared a 2-1 affair in the most recent meeting in 2015. Friday will be the first neutral-site contest between the sides.

Friday's round-of-48 match will mark UNCP's third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, but first since 2010. The Braves made their first trip to the postseason in 2008 and won their opening-round bout with Pfeiffer before falling to Carson-Newman in the second round. In 2010, the Black & Gold once again knocked off Pfeiffer in the first round, but fell to Armstrong State in the round-of-32.

The Braves are one of three league teams set to begin play in the NCAA Southeast Regional. Second-seeded Columbus State will join Carson-Newman with a bye in the first round, while third-seeded Flagler will battle Limestone in the round-of-48.

Carson-Newman earned an automatic berth into the postseason thanks to Sunday's 4-0 win over Wingate in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament title game, while Limestone locked up an automatic bid by virtue of a 1-0 defeat of Lees-McRae in the championship game of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.