EVANS, Ga. - Second-seed UNC Pembroke (17-1-1) got a pair of second half goals and held off a late charge by No. 3 seed Georgia College & State University (13-2-4) in a 2-1 win in the first Peach Belt Conference women's semifinal game Friday (Nov. 7). UNCP advances to Sunday's championship contest, while GCSU will await word on a possible post-season NCAA Regional bid.

The game was a scoreless draw through the first 45 minutes. UNCP was able to get off 13 shots in the opening period with Bobcat keeper Mary Rob Plunkett (Augusta, Ga.) collecting six saves. Georgia College fired six times at Braves keeper Whitney Beverly, who collected one save.

The deadlock remained until an unusual play in the 63rd minute. UNCP had a throw in deep in Bobcat territory near the corner. A long throw was played into the box and deflected by a defender. The ball was bobbled by Plunkett and rolled past her far enough for an own goal and a 1-0 UNCP lead.

The Braves quickly added their second score in a more conventional way. Nisa Akins fed a rolling pass deep into Bobcat territory and Britney Joiner ran it down, and sliding a shot to the far left corner for a 2-1 lead at the 64:41 mark.

Georgia College got on the board in the 88th minute as Daria Owen (Snellville, Ga.) placed a corner kick into the box and found the forehead of Tawny Moffat (Peachtree City, Ga.) beating Beverly for the score and the 2-1 finish.

For the game UNCP held a slim 19-18 advantage in shots. Beverly collected five saves in the game, while Plunkett knocked away seven shots. Georgia College led in corner kicks by a 5-2 margin. GCSU committed eight fouls to five for UNCP.

The Bobcats, entering the tournament as the No. 4 ranked team in the region, await the NCAA Tournament selection, hoping for an at-large bid.

The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Follow the Bobcats and their positive impact on the Milledgeville community at www.gcsu.edu/bobcats.