MISENHEIMER, N.C. - For the first time in nearly three decades, the BC women's soccer team (14-0-2, 8-0-1 USA South) has completed an unbeaten regular season campaign. The Tornados finalized their invincible 2024 regular season with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening over Pfeiffer University (3-12, 1-8 USAS) at Lefko-Mills Field in Misenheimer, North Carolina.
Prior to Wednesday's regular season finale, the Tornados received the school's first regular season trophy in any sport in the NCAA era. It is the first conference regular season title since BC was a member of the NAIA ranks and took home the 2005 Appalachian Athletic Conference Volleyball regular season title – making Saturday's accomplishment Brevard's first regular season championship in 19 years.
Brevard is unbeaten through 16 contests for the first time in program NCAA-era history, and the Tornados have secured 10 consecutive wins for the first time in the NCAA era. BC's unbeaten campaign is the first for BC women's soccer since the program went unbeaten back-to-back seasons en route to NCJAA National Championships in 1997 and 1998. Brevard also becomes the first USA South member-institution to complete an unbeaten regular season since Piedmont went 16-0-4 in the 2017 campaign.
With the win on Wednesday, the Tornados secured their 14th win of the season, which sets a new single-season NCAA-era record for wins, breaking last year's mark of 13 victories.
The Tornados dropped the Falcons in come-from-behind fashion, utilizing two late goals by Kinlee Mozley and Brennan Howell to claim the historic victory.
First, Mozley lined up a deep cross in the 80th minute that sailed into the back of the net, deflecting into the right corner of the goal off of Pfeiffer's goalkeeper's outstretched hands. Then, just over a minute later in the 82nd minute, Howell took control of a long pass by Kennedy Kelly in the air and slotted a shot home into the left corner of the goal, giving Brevard a 2-1 lead after Pfeiffer originally scored in the 67th minute off a corner kick.
Brevard maintained consistent possession throughout the first half but the Tornados were unable to break the stalemate. Elis Dinis, Kinlee Mozley, and Mikayla Zvekan all attempted shots-on-target through the first 45 minutes of action, with the Tornados holding a 12-1 shot edge in the first half.
In the second half, Pfeiffer broke the stalemate as Khamani Spencer hit a header in off a corner by Emma LaFave. The Falcons held that edge for 13 minutes, but the Tornados mounted a ferocious comeback effort sparked by Mozley's 10th goal of her sensational freshman campaign. Howell's second game-winner of 2024 was her sixth goal of the season.
All told, Brevard dominated the stat sheet on Wednesday, holding a 22-2 edge on shot attempts with an 8-2 edge in on-target shots. BC maintained possession of the ballgame for a majority of the contest as well.
The 2024 USA South Conference Women's Soccer Tournament begins on Saturday, where the Tornados have the highest overall seed and will host the eight-seed at Ives-Lemel Family Field. The semifinals of the tournament are slated for next Wednesday, November 6, while the championship will take place on Saturday, November 9.
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-BC-
