CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's soccer team, seeded fifth in the
NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Regionals, will take on fourth-seeded UNC-Pembroke Friday at 2 p.m. at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. This will be the first time in 10 years the Queens' women's soccer team has advanced to the NCAA Championships.
The Royals, who finished the season with a record of 11-2-3, enter the game after receiving an at-large bid. The Braves enter with a 15-4-1 record and a Peach Belt Conference title to their name. The winner of the game will play top-seeded Carson-Newman University (17-0-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
In their most recent outing on October 31, Queens was ousted from the SAC Conference Championships by Anderson University in the quarterfinals. The game went into a penalty kick shootout after it was still tied 1-1 after two overtimes. Anderson won the shootout, 4-3.
SAC All-Conference First Team member
Alana Jefferson leads the Royals with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists. She is ranked third in the SAC in goals and fourth in points.
Goalkeeper
Rachel Quest led the SAC with eight shutouts on the season, including seven straight near the end of the regular season. As a team, Queens recorded 10 shutouts on the season.
UNC-Pembroke is coming off their first-ever Peach Belt Conference title after upsetting Columbus State in the conference title game. Columbus State was ranked 10
th in the nation.
The Braves are led by Alexis Pittman, who has 21 points off of nine goals and three assists, and Stacey Scott, who has 19 points off of seven goals and five assists on the season. The team's goalkeeper, Gina Ryan, has earned 11 shutouts this season.
The Royals last played the Braves in 2015, when Queens defended their home turf with a 2-1 victory. That was the Royals' first-ever win over UNC-Pembroke, as the Braves lead the all-time series 4-1.
Kickoff for the NCAA Southeast Regionals match is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, November 10 at McCown Field in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
