By Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The UNC Pembroke women’s soccer team opened Conference Carolina play on Saturday taking on the Converse Valkyries. The Braves dominated from start to finish on both sides of the field and put on a scoring clinic taking down their conference foes 5-0. The Black and Gold allowed only one shot on goal the whole game, tying a school record.
The Black and Gold got things going early not wasting any time going up 1-0 in the third minute of the match. Mercy Bell, who was voted Brave of the week knocked it in off an assist by Ashleigh Harris. Bell would find the net three minutes later for her second goal of the match sending over the head of the Converse goalie, Abigail Lowry assisted on the play. UNCP would go quiet the rest of the first half, leading 2-0 at halftime.
In the second half the Braves picked up right where they left off quickly, scoring in the 48th minute off a hat trick from Bell marking her third goal of the day to add to her performance. UNCP finished things off with scores in the 84th and 90th minutes. Ashley Forbes broke free of a defender and knocked it in the back of the net to make it 4-0 and Bea Vazquez found the net off an assist from Devyn Hart to finish off the scoring and pick up the win at home.
Forbes and Vazquez recorded their first goals of the season, and Bell added up to 13 goals in her career.
The Braves (2-1-0, 1-0-0 CC) will travel to Limestone (0-2-0) on Wednesday for a non-conference match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.