PEMBROKE, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey women's soccer team rallied from a second-half deficit with two goals over the final 15 minutes as the Crusaders earned a 3-2 win over UNC Pembroke Saturday afternoon at Lumbee River EMC Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 in the closing minutes, Haley Long got the equalizer in the 78th minute and Hannah Willis put the Crusaders ahead for good for the victory.

With Saturday's results, Belmont Abbey improve to 9-4-1 overall and 7-1-1 in Conference Carolinas play. It is the fifth victory in six contests for the Crusaders. UNC Pembroke is now 6-5-1 overall and 6-2-1 in the league.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Belmont Abbey got the scoring started with Caroline Roche's second goal in as many games with her tally in the eighth minute via an Anna Richárd assist.
• UNC Pembroke responded with an equalizer in the 20th minute.
• The Crusaders outshot the Braves 9-3 in the first half.
• The Braves pulled ahead with Mercy Bell's second goal in the 64th minute.
• Haley Long — who led the team with five shots — got the tying goal with just over 12 minutes remaining in the contest.
• Ryleigh Dougherty made three saves in the win for the Crusaders, including her final save in the 83rd minute.
• Less than two minutes later, Willis put the ball in the back of the net off an assist from Maris Toppin to secure the win.
• Belmont Abbey outshot UNC Pembroke 19-10 and have five corner kicks compared to two for the Braves.
• It is the first time that the Crusaders have defeated the Braves at UNC Pembroke based on records available to 2011.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey continues its extended road trip with a Northwest Division contest against Converse at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Spartanburg.
• The first women's soccer KPI is scheduled to be released Monday to determine conference tournament seeding.
• A win or draw by the Crusaders will clinch the division title.