Belmont Abbey senior forward Simone Melvin scored the only goal of the match in the 60th minute and senior goalkeeper Hannah Kohls posted her tenth shutout in 20 matches as the Crusaders women's soccer team won the 2014 Conference Carolinas championship with a 1-0 win over Pfeiffer this evening in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Crusaders capture the Conference Carolinas title for a record eighth time as they earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with a record of 12-6-2. Pfeiffer ends its season with a mark of 12-7-2.

After losing 3-1 at King on September 29, the Crusaders record dropped to 2-5-2. Since that loss, the Crusaders are 10-1-0.

After a scoreless first half, Melvin put the only goal of the match on the board at the 59:34 mark, looping a 35 yard shot over the head of Blakeney Blair. It is the San Ramon, California product's first goal of the season.

Senior Simone Melvin celebrates her goal

From there, the Crusaders defense held off an offensive barrage from Pfeiffer, as the back line of Ale Moucha, Amanda Steiner, Jillian Lang and Megan Nanney held the league's leading goal scoring team off the board for the second time in nine days.

Kohls, who was named the Touranment's Most Outstanding Player, stopped four shots as she recorded her tenth shutout of the season.

The Falcons outshot the Abbey 13-9 and Belmont Abbey held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Along with Kohls, Melvin, Theresa Mateo and Meghan Philp were named to the All-Tournament team.

Belmont Abbey advances to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time and the third year in a row. The Crusaders will learn their opponent and location Monday night at 7:00 when the brackets are revealed on ncaa.com.