PEMBROKE – Two early scores in the first half helped set the tone, but four second-half goals helped the UNC Pembroke soccer team cruise to a 6-0 victory over Erskine on Saturday afternoon in the Conference Carolinas opener for both teams.
The Braves (1-2-0, 1-0-0 CC) fired off 28 shots – the most since the 2019 season when the squad registered 32 strikes against Barton. The Flying Feet (0-3-0, 0-1-0 CC) were limited to just six shots over the course of the matchup.
Saturday's tilt between the Braves and Flying Fleet marked the first league athletic contest for a UNCP squad since the Black & Gold rejoined Conference Carolinas. The department's athletic teams called Conference Carolinas (then-Carolinas Conference) home from 1976-92 when they were affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
| SCORING SUMMARY |
| 8' |
Maya Grimes played a ball across the field and inside the box where she found the feet of Anna Grossheim for the first goal of the game. |
| 31' |
Rilee Seering saw an opening and set Alexis Pittman up to slip one past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 advantage for the hosts. |
| 57' |
The Braves used a corner kick from Anna Grossheim that landed across the box where Ilaya Bigford found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal. |
| 76' |
After a shot deflection by the defense, Rilee Seering played the rebound and added to the Braves lead. |
| 80' |
Abigail Lowry dribbled down the field and made a pass to lead Kassie Jesrani inside the box where the freshman picked up her first collegiate goal. |
| 81' |
Kassie Jesrani worked the defense down and passed out to Rilee Seering who fired off a shot from 30 yards out for the final goal of the game. |
| TOP BRAVES |
+ Senior Rilee Seering recorded five points on two goals and one assist. It was the third multi-goal game of Seering's career.
+ Anna Grossheim netted her first collegiate goal and an assist for a career-best three points.
+ Freshman Kassie Jesrani recorded three points with a goal and an assist. |
| NOTABLES |
+ The Braves improved to 12-8-1 all-time in conference openers with Saturday's victory, and have now won two of their last three league lid-lifters. It was the most lopsided win for UNCP in a conference opener since a 7-0 win over Georgia Southwestern in 2015.
+ Saturday's contest served as UNCP's first as a member of Conference Carolinas, but the Braves improved to 37-12-1 (.750) all-time against current members of Conference Carolinas with Saturday's result. |
| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will head to Evans, Ga., and face former Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State (3-0-1) on Wednesday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Blanchard Woods Park. |
