BROWNS SUMMIT, NC (Nov. 14) – Senior forward
Tehya Dave' led the way with one goal and an assist on Friday afternoon (Nov. 14), as the top-seeded and No. 18 ranked Francis Marion University women's soccer program secured its spot in the championship with a 3-1 victory over Young Harris in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament at Bryan Park.
Francis Marion improves to 17-1 overall and remains perfect on the road with an impressive 9-0 mark this season. With the win, FMU matches the most wins in a single-season program history set by 2000 squad (17-3-0). For a consecutive year, the Patriots will play for the Conference Carolinas Championship on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m., versus No. 2 Belmont Abbey.
Young Harris closes the 2025 season with an 11-6-3 record and captured a share of the Southwest Division crown in the regular season.
The Patriots quickly found the back of the net in the opening minutes, forcing a turnover just beyond midfield before launching a counterattack. Freshman
Madeline Ballard played a through ball into the box, and Dave' chipped her shot over the goalkeeper to take a 1-0 lead at the 2:13 mark. It marked the 12th goal of the season for the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year.
Francis Marion continued to pressure the offensive zone in the opening 10 minutes, recording four shots and three corner kicks. Freshman
Cora Lepper nearly added to the lead in the 19th minute with a header from just outside the six-yard box, which was stopped. FMU looked to have scored in the final minutes of the half on a header off a free kick, but it was ruled offside.
At the break, Francis Marion held a 10-1 shot advantage and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.
In the second half, FMU was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out, and senior defender
Alana Hunt delivered a goal into the right side of the net in the 50th minute, 2-0. It marked the second goal of the season for the Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. The Patriots registered a third goal at the 61:50 mark after a failed clearance allowed Dave' to play a cross into the box to Lepper, who scored from seven yards out, 3-0. The Mountain Lions answered back in the 68th minute with a strike by Sunny Bowlin-Stacy that sailed beyond the diving keeper, 3-1. Junior goalkeeper
Erin Grabeel collected three saves in the final nine minutes of the contest to seal the 3-1 win.
Grabeel finished with five saves while facing 10 shots in 90 minutes of action.
Francis Marion held a 17-10 shot advantage and a 4-3 lead in corner kicks.
Dave' moved into a tie with Dayle McEwen (2017-21) for 13th all-time with 21 career goals. Additionally, she sits in a six-way tie at 32 points (12 goals, 8 assists) in a single season.
