BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. — For the third time in the last four years, the Belmont Abbey women's soccer team is heading to the Conference Carolinas Championship match.
The Crusaders advanced to the championship match thanks to a 4-2 victory in a penalty kick shootout against No. 1 seed Lees-McRae Friday at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex.
Belmont Abbey will play No. 3 seed Francis Marion in the championship match at 1 p.m. Sunday back at Bryan Park. The Patriots defeated UNC Pembroke 2-1 in the other semifinal Friday afternoon.
Belmont Abbey went four of five in the penalty shootout with successful conversions from
Mia Muckenthaler,
Haley Long,
Grace Siders and
Samantha Smith with the clincher. Smith had the clincher in the semifinal of the Conference Carolinas Developmental Championship match earlier this season.
Brianna Sroka made a pair of saves in the shootout.
The last time that the Crusaders went to a penalty kick shootout in the Conference Carolinas Tournament was November 2, 2018 against Barton in the semifinals. Belmont Abbey won that shootout 3-1 to advance to the championship match that season.
Belmont Abbey is now 12-3-4 on the season. Lees-McRae finishes its year with a 10-2-4 overall record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half was a defensive battle as the two teams combined for just three shots.
- Both shots from the Abbey were on target from Gabriela Enciso and Alyssa Espinosa.
- Play began to open up in the second half with a combined seven shots in the run of play.
- Enciso had a chance saved by Chiara Coppin the 52nd minute and Muckenthaler had a shot from a free kick just outside the box near the end of regulation as the Abbey's best scoring chances in the second half.
- The Crusaders held on defensively in the first overtime period but got two shots on goal in the second overtime period from Long and Muckenthaler.
- Sroka and Ryleigh Dougherty did not face a shot on target during regulation and in overtime.
- Belmont Abbey had a 9-5 shot advantage and the Crusaders also had five corner kicks in the match.
