By Devin McCullough
UNC Pembroke celebrated Senior Day in style on Saturday afternoon, defeating Barton 2-0 in Conference Carolinas action. The Braves dominated early, striking for two first-half goals while holding the Bulldogs to just four total shots.
The highlight of the afternoon came in the 3rd minute when Mercy Bell etched her name into the UNCP record books. A precise long pass from Leila Utate found Bell, who cut back and fired a clinical shot into the side netting for her 45th career goal, making her the program’s all-time leading scorer. Bell’s historic goal gave the Braves an early 1-0 lead and set the tone for the rest of the match.
Maya McDonald added insurance in the 85th minute with a strike over the Barton goalkeeper. The goal followed a brilliant sequence started by Jasmin Diop, whose service into the box connected with Eugenie Amidou before McDonald finished the play. Leila Utate, Eugenie Amidou, and Jasmin Diop each contributed an assist during the match, showcasing the team’s cohesive attacking effort.
Addison Ellsworth recorded two saves to secure her ninth clean sheet of the season, helping UNCP maintain a strong defensive performance. The Braves held Barton scoreless in the second half and limited them to just four total shots on the day.
The victory improves UNC Pembroke to 9-6-1 overall and 9-3-1 in Conference Carolinas play. The win also secured the No. 3 seed for the upcoming Conference Carolinas Tournament, where the Braves will host the winner of No. 6 Chowan and No. 11 Ferrum on Saturday, November 8, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at LREMC Stadium.
Saturday’s Senior Day was a memorable occasion for UNCP, highlighted by Mercy Bell’s record-breaking milestone and a team performance that combined scoring flair with defensive discipline.