By Zack Ciboth, Sports Editor
The UNC Pembroke women’s soccer team picked up a shutout win Saturday afternoon when they defeated the Chowan Hawks 3-0 on the road in a Conference Carolina match. This win for the Braves marks the tenth victory in the series against Chowan. The Braves scored fast on a goal by Mercy Bell off an assist from Anna Grossheim and Ashleigh Harris made it 2-0 with her first goal of the season and Bell tallied her second goal of the game.
Bell recorded a total of 10 shots with five coming on goal and coming away with two goals on the afternoon. Harris had four shots with two coming on goal and scoring one, Abigail Lowry had two shots with one on goal and tallied two assists. Grossheim finished with five shots with three on goal and one assist in the win.
The Braves (5-3-1, 4-1-1 CC) will take a short trip down l-95 on Saturday when they take on Florence (6-2-1, 3-1-1 CC) for the battle of l-95 with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
Swimming
The UNC Pembroke women’s swim team continued there fast and hot start to the new season over the weekend when they competed in a two-day King Invitational in Bristol, Tenn. It was a record shattering and dominant performance as they took home first place to claim victory in the swim meet.
Keylyn Rodriguez Matos broke a school recorded when she posted a time of 1:05.00 in the 100-yard Breaststroke and she also finished first as part of a team that took first in the 400-yard Freestyle. Benedetta Pepe Pugliese added to her record season when she added another NCAA B Standard time when she claimed victory in the 400-yard Individual Medley with a 4:29.16 time and then placed second in the 100-yard Breaststroke behind teammate Rodriguez Matos.
Katie Raleigh claimed victory in multiple events taking first in the 100-yard Backstroke and 200-yard Butterfly posting times of 58.60 and 2:05.58. Fellow teammate Britta Schwengle took first in the 100-yard Freestyle with a time of 53.62.
The Braves next meet will be back at home when they host Wingate and Chowan in a tri-meet at Sue Walsh Swimming Pool on October 21st at 1 p.m.
Cross Country
The UNC Pembroke men’s and women’s cross-country teams claimed top five finishes this past weekend in Columbia, S.C when they competed in the Akiah McMillian Invitational hosted by Columbia College. A first place in the 6k race by Braves Jackline Kosgei with a time of 22:18.7 helped the Braves place second place finish as a team.
On the Men’s side it was an all-around team effort to place third in the men’s 8k race with Elisha Kipsang placing 13th with a 26:49.1 time and a Bryan Viera 21st place finish at 27:27.8.
On contributors for the ladies’ side were Michela Gritti with a ninth-place finish and a 17th place finish from Malea Bennewitz and Karen Piro crossed to place 21st and finishing the scoring was Jazmine Lorenzo in 50th and Mariah Spencer in 62nd.
Will Clancey and Payden Lewis finished back-to-back from each other placing 23rd and 24th, Christian Whiteside crossed to place 35th and Gabe Blackwelder, Conrad Robertson, Daniel Mejias finished with 58th, 67th, and 83rd place finishes to round out the men’s side.
The next meet for the Braves will be this upcoming Friday when they head to the Queen City (Charlotte) for the Royals XC Challenge hosted by Queens University.