MURFREESBORO, N.C. - Despite several weather delays on Friday afternoon, Conference Carolinas action continued on with the #1 Chowan University Hawks securing a 3-2 win over #5 seeded Young Harris College. Friday's semi-final win positions the Hawks in the Conference Championship match on Sunday, where they will face either #2 Converse or #3 Francis Marion for the 2024 title. The second semi-final match is currently underway on Friday night. The Hawks will look to defend their 2023 title, and their fourth title overall on Sunday afternoon.Â
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 3, Young Harris 2
RECORDS | Chowan 9-4-3, Young Harris 11-3-4
LOCATION | Browns Summit, N.C.Â
THE SCORING
24:54 Junior Smith (Robbie Deighan)
28:51 Jamie Lapsley Â
30:04 Sam DeaconÂ
46:58 Matty Doyle (Charley Leech)
59:42 Jamie Lapsley (Sergio Llopart, Leho Le Louarn)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
The Hawks opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Junior Smith netted his 14th goal of the season, finishing off a perfectly placed pass from Robbie Deighan. The Mountain Lions answered after setting up a corner in the 28th minute. Young Harris' Jamie Lapsley fired a 9-yard shot through traffic to equalize at 1-1. Sam Deacon put the Hawks back on top 2-1 with a left-footed strike from 15 yards out in the 30th minute. The Hawks held a 2-1 lead heading into the halftime break.Â
The Hawks came out strong after halftime with a quick strike just under two minutes into second half play. Matty Doyle headed in a goal off a free kick from Charley Leech, extending Chowan's lead to 3-1. The Mountain Lions responded in the 59th minute with a second goal by Lapsley to cut into the Hawks but Doyle's header in the 46th minute was enough to hold off any Young Harris comeback.Â
Chase Jansen picked up the win in frame for Chowan. Last years tournament MVP recorded three saves in the match.Â
The Hawks fired off 10 shots in the match to Young Harris' 9. The Mountain Lions posted eight corners to the Hawks two in the match.Â
UP NEXT
The Hawks are now awaiting their opponent for the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Championship, set to take place at 4:00 PM in Browns Summit, N.C. on Sunday, November 17th. Fans can tune in live at conferencecarolinasdn.com or by logging onto gocuhawks.com and finding the GAME DAY CENTRAL tab.