BANNER ELK, N.C. –
Julie Eskes recorded the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute off a beautiful ball from
Ezra Carpenter as No. 3 Lees-McRae women's soccer defeated No. 6 Mount Olive, 1-0, in the Quarterfinals of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 3 Lees-McRae – 1,No. 6 Mount Olive – 0
LOCATION: Tate Field -- Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (10-2-5/8-1-4); Mount Olive (7-7-6/4-3-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Mount Olive held a 7-0 shot advantage in the first half with three shots on goal. The Trojans had early opportunities with shots on frame from Madyson Brown and Charlotte Benson in the first six minutes of play. Yaneli Sanchez added another shot on goal in the 25th minute but Laura Walker made the save.
- Lees-McRae had its first shot on goal in the 64th minute from Madison Martin. Mount Olive's Anais Coyne made the save.
- The Bobcats finally found the back of the net after Carpenter just down a ball from Kylie Gutierrez and passed the ball to a wide open Eskes for the finish.
- Lees-McRae held off the Trojans for the final 12 minutes and secured the 1-0 win. The Bobcats now advance to the Semifinals and will face No. 2 Francis Marion on Thursday evening.
- Walker secured the clean sheet and made five saves this afternoon against the Trojans. Eskes and Martin had shots on goal for the Bobcats.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae now heads to Browns Summit, North Carolina for the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Soccer Championship Semifinals against No. 2 Francis Marion on Thursday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics)
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