COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Flagler College women's soccer team (7-6-5 overall, 5-2-2 Peach Belt Conference) is set to face No. 3 Columbus State (15-3-2 overall, 7-0-2 PBC) on Friday afternoon in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Regional. The match marks the Saints' eighth NCAA Tournament appearance since joining Division II in 2008.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Walden Soccer Complex in Columbus, Georgia. Fans can follow the action through live stats or watch the match for free on NCAA.com. Tickets for those looking to attend can be purchased here.
 
Friday afternoon's contest marks the second meeting of the season between the Saints and Cougars and the 31st all-time. Columbus State holds a 19-5-5 advantage in the all-time series. The two conference foes met on Sept. 26 in Saint Augustine, playing to a 2-2 draw. Phoebe Davidson and Haley Stafford gave Flagler a two-goal advantage in the first half before the Cougars responded with a pair of goals in the final 16 minutes to earn the draw.
 
Flagler earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 7-6-5 record. The Saints navigated a challenging schedule that featured four nationally ranked opponents and two additional programs receiving votes. Flagler also extended its streak of Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinal appearances to eight consecutive seasons, advancing with a 3-1 victory over Lander in the quarterfinals.
 
Junior standout Ella Gembicki earned First Team All-PBC honors after starting 16 of 18 matches this season. The midfielder recorded four goals, the second-most on the team, and added two assists. Second Team All-PBC selection Brooke Rienecker has provided veteran leadership for the Saints. The senior leads the team with six goals, including a pair of two-goal performances against Middle Georgia and USC Aiken. Fellow senior Avery Raimondo, a Preseason All-PBC selection, also earned Second Team All-PBC recognition after starting all 18 matches and anchoring the midfield.
 
Phoebe Davidson has provided an offensive spark for Flagler in her first season with the Saints, recording three goals and a team-high four assists. Freshmen Netanya Brown and Eleanora Close have each appeared in all 18 matches, including six starts. Brown has recorded three goals and an assist, while Close has added a goal and an assist. The freshman connection made its mark in the PBC Tournament quarterfinals against Lander, combining for two goals to help propel the Saints to victory.
 
In goal, freshman Irina Barron-Gomez has started all 18 matches and recorded four clean sheets. The Barcelona, Spain, native ranks third in the conference in both saves (87) and save percentage (.763).
 
The Saints will look to capture their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2022, when Flagler defeated UNC Pembroke. Friday's winner will advance to the second round on Sunday, Nov. 15, to face the winner of the matchup between Catawba and UNC Pembroke.
 
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