The Belmont Abbey women's soccer team fell to the visiting UNC Pembroke Braves by a 2-0 score this afternoon in a key Southeast Regional matchup. The Braves, currently tied for sixth in the regional rankings, move to 6-2-1, while the Abbey drops to 4-5.

Belmont Abbey controlled play through much of the first half, and nearly scored just 57 ticks into the match when Kristin Foster broke free down the left side and sent a shot towards the upper right corner of the frame, but Braves goalkeeper Britney Bennett got a hand on it and swatted it over the goal line, which led to three straight Crusader corner kicks.

The Crusaders next best chance to draw first blood came in the 26th minute when an Ananda Gebreyesus header off of a Foster cross sailed just to the right of the post.

After those two scoring chances, UNC Pembroke went ahead 1-0 shortly before halftime as Michelle Hernandez steadied a high pass in the box, made a move around goalkeeper Hannah Kohls and fired a shot into the empty net before the trailing Crusader defenders could make a play.

The lead stayed at 1-0 until the 64th minute when Ashley Anctil added an insurance goal when she beat a defender and flicked a left footed shot into the upper right corner of the goal.

Belmont Abbey held a 10-8 edge in shots and the Braves attempted six corner kicks to just four for the home side. Bennett made three saves, while Kohls did not record one.