EVANS, Ga. – Top-seeded and third-ranked Columbus State got a goal from Riley Clark in each half and fought off a second-half flurry by the UNC Pembroke soccer team on the way to a 2-0 victory over the fourth-seeded Braves in the semifinal round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Friday evening.
The setback snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak for UNCP (10-5-1) who will now await Sunday evening's NCAA Tournament selection show to learn if it has received one of four at-large bids out of the Southeast Region. The Cougars (16-0-1) advance to Sunday's championship game where they will face the winner of Friday's other semifinal contest between seventh-seeded Georgia College and sixth-seeded Young Harris.
| SCORING SUMMARY |
| 16' |
A deflection off of a UNCP defender set up the first goal of the game as Riley Clark settled the loose ball and blasted a shot past Braves netminder Gina Ryan into the upper right corner. CSU 1, UNCP 0 |
| 74' |
Flo Spano's pass into the penalty area found the right foot of Riley Clark who punched a shot past Gina Ryan for the two-goal cushion. CSU 2, UNCP 0 |
| TOP BRAVES |
+ Freshman Bree Mason recorded a team-best four shots for the Braves, including two shots on goal. Junior Katy Ryan also turned in a pair of shots on goal.
+ Ten players played all 90 minutes for the Braves. UNCP made its lone sub with just less than three minutes remaining in the opening half.
+ Junior Gina Ryan registered eight saves between the pipes for the Black & Gold – the fourth time this season that the Cape Carteret native has logged seven or more stops. |
| NOTABLES |
+ The Braves fell to 4-19-1 all-time in the series with Columbus State. Nine of those matchups have come in the PBC Tournament.
+ Eleven of the matchups in the series with Columbus State have been decided by one goal or less.
+ Friday's setback snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak for the Black & Gold who posted an 8-2-1 mark in the month of October. UNCP's last loss prior to Friday was a 2-1 setback at Lander on October 10. |
| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will gather at an undisclosed location for Monday evening's NCAA Tournament selection show to learn if they have earned one of the four at-large bids from the Southeast Region. The show is scheduled to be posted on NCAA.com between 6 and 6:30 p.m. |
