COLUMBUS, Ga. — The fourth-seeded Flagler College women's soccer team took a scoreless first half and turned it into a 2-1victory over fifth-seeded UNC Pembroke to open the NCAA Tournament at the Walden Soccer Complex Friday.
 
The win advances 18th-ranked Flagler (16-2-1) into the second round of the Southeast Region behind its 10th straight victory, while the loss ends UNC Pembroke's season at 15-5. The Saints will face the winner of top-seeded Columbus State University/eighth-seeded University of Mount Olive at 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
It didn't take the Saints long to flip the script in the second half. Andrea Fernandez only needed 22 seconds to put Flagler ahead for good as she took a pass from Josefine Nilsen and sent it from the left side, pinging it off the post and into the right corner in the 45th minute.
 
"We started slowly today and struggled to find our rhythm; however, we knew we could find another gear in the second half," Flagler head coach Ashley Martin said. "We started the second half with more intensity and got an early goal with a moment of brilliance from Andrea, and then the team really settled in and played some nice stuff."
 
Fernandez's goal marked her 16th of the season, and then the PBC Player and Freshman of the Year added onto her assist total with a flick to Annie Habeeb 10 minutes later. The seasoned Habeeb passed it to the sensational freshman before she flicked it back, and Habeeb hit it for a one-timer from 30 yards out at the 55-minute mark. The score was the senior's ninth of the season and second game-winning goal, while it was Fernandez's 13th assist.
 
The Braves were able to cut into the lead with a penalty kick from Ashleigh Harris in the 61st minute, but that's the only score UNCP would see. Flagler goalkeeper Madison North had four saves on 10 shots (five on goal) faced while defending 10 corner kicks.
 
Of the Saints' 12 shots, seven were on goal with the two finding paydirt to send the Saints past UNCP once again. In the duo's 14th all-time meeting, it was Flagler's fifth straight victory and extended an eight-match unbeaten streak where the Saints are 6-0-2 over that stretch, dating back to 2014. Overall, Flagler is 8-4-2 against the Braves.