Box Score

BELMONT, N.C. - The Pfeiffer women's soccer team (10-6-2, 8-2-1 CC) were upset at Belmont Abbey (9-6-2, 8-3) in the Falcons bid to clinch the Conference Carolinas regular season crown for the first time since 2005. The Crusaders used a goal in the 11th minute to secure a 1-0 victory and drop the Falcons out of the top spot in the league standings.

With the loss, the Falcons fate is up in the air. If Converse wins, the Valkyries will take home the regular season title. The Falcons could drop to the third seed in the upcoming conference tournament with a win by Limestone tomorrow afternoon.

However, the last two times the Falcons won the conference tournament, they entered as the number four and three seed respectively.

An early mistake in the defensive end led to the only goal of the contest as a giveaway deep in the Falcons zone gave Cierra Skyers the opening she needed. Skyers finished the unassisted goal at the 10:54 mark of the first half, which turned out to be the game-winner.

Pfeiffer tried to rally late but Macy Rutledge saw her shot sail wide in the 86th minute and Kayla Rodriguez's shot in the 88th minute was saved by Hannah Kohls. Time ran out on the comeback attempt and the Crusaders celebrated the upset.

For the match, Pfeiffer outshot the hosts 11-8.  Macy Rutledge, Katie Collins and Aaliyah Jackson all fired two shots for the Falcons in the contest. Blakeney Blair suffered only her second loss of the season in net as she made four saves.

Today concludes the regular season for the Falcons who will advance to the Conference Carolinas Tournament as the defending champion. Pfeiffer will host the quarterfinal round and the opponent is yet to be determined. The match will take place at 2 p.m.