By Devin McCullough
In the Conference Carolinas Championship quarterfinals at Lumbee River EMC Stadium on Saturday, UNC Pembroke defeated Ferrum 3-1 thanks to two goals from senior forward Mercy Bell.
The Braves (10-6-1) 3-0 sweep the Panthers (8-9-2) to 3-0-0 all-time with an outstanding 25 shots and complete control of the game. With the victory, UNCP secured a spot in the tournament semifinals for what is now the fifth consecutive year. On November 14, they will take on No. 2 seed Belmont Abbey.
After pushing past a Ferrum defender and grabbing a loose ball, Bell scored the first goal in the 32nd minute, making it 1-0. In the 54th minute, she extended the lead after sprinting onto a pass from Eli Soderberg, cutting past her target, and hitting a strong left-footed shot into the side netting. Bell scored her 46th and 47th goals in her career with the pair.
In the 81st minute, Freya Lodge Whitham striked a goal for a 3-0 dagger. Amber Nichole Gillen scored a penalty kick for Ferrum a minute later, but the Panthers’ lone goal was unable to halt UNCP’s advance.
The Braves will now concentrate on the semifinals, where they will play No. 2 seed Belmont Abbey on Friday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Bryan Park’s Truist Soccer Complex in Browns Summit. The Braves seem well-positioned to maintain their postseason run with Bell in peak form.