The No. 7-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University women’s soccer team continued its run through the NCAA tournament this week as hosts of third and fourth round of the women’s soccer tournament.

On Nov. 18 the Pirates squared off against the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne, a rematch from last year’s Southeast Region final which Armstrong lost 1-0.

However, this year it was the Pirates that recorded the 1-0 decision as Nadima Skeff’s goal in the 16^thminute of the match proved to be the game winning goal.

The victory over Lenoir-Rhyne gave Armstrong the Southeast Region title for the first time in the women’s soccer program’s history.

On Nov. 20 the Armstrong women’s squad played the No. 21-ranked Tampa Spartans, which won the South Region with its 1-0 win over Lynn in double overtime.

The Pirates got on the board early as Morgan Mitchell scored on a diving header in the fourth minute of the match. But, the Spartans equalized on a penalty kick in the 34^thminute after Amanda Pennybaker was taken down inside the box.

The score remained tie at 1-1 until the 63^rdminute, when Mitchell put a second header into the back of the net just beyond the outstretch Tampa keeper. Mitchell’s two goals were enough to help the Pirates advance to the semifinals with a 2-1 win.

Armstrong becomes only the second Peach Belt school to advance to the NCAA Final Four. The Pirates will face No. 10-ranked College of Saint Rose on Dec. 1 in Pensacola, Fla. and the winner of that match faces the winner between two-time defending champs Grand Valley State and Cal. St. Chico on Dec. 3.

Women’s Volleyball (36-3, 13-1 PBC, No. 21 AVCA DII Top 25 Poll)

The No. 21-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University women’s volleyball team was in action this week at the NCAA Southeast Region tournament in Wingate, N.C.

Armstrong went into the tournament as the No. 3 seed, behind hosts Wingate and fellow Peach Belt school Flagler.

In the first round on Nov. 18 Armstrong went up against the No. 6-seeded Tusculum Pioneers. Armstrong won the first set with ease, 25-15, but hand to hold off a resilient Tusculum squad in order to take the next two sets and the game, 26-24 and 25-22.

The win set up a Nov. 19 meeting with familiar foe and PBC tournament champions Flagler, the fourth match between the two schools this season.

In the first set Flagler used seven point run to go up 12-4 early. The Pirates brought it back to within two at 15-12, but after a pair of Armstrong errors could bring it no closer than five as the Saints won the first set 25-19.

The second was tight all the way through, with 14 ties and seven lead changes. But it was Flagler that once again came out on top with a 29-27 set win.

In the third set it was all Saints as they outhit the Pirates .423 to .067 and went on the win the set 25-14, sweeping Armstrong and bouncing them from the tournament.

With the loss the Pirates finish the season with the best overall record in the program’s history at 36-3.

Women’s Basketball (4-0)

The Armstrong Atlantic State University women’s basketball team got to a 4-0 start this season, winning its first four games for the first time since the 2002-2003 season.

On Nov. 14 the Lady Pirates used a huge second half run to pick up the win over Converse. Coming out of halftime Armstrong held a one point lead, 22-21, but halfway through the second they went on a 22-5 run as they cruised the rest of the way to a 67-43 win over the Valkyries.

Then later in the week the Lady Pirates played host to the 2011 Wingate by Wyndham Pirate Classic on Nov. 18-19.

Against Young Harris on Nov. 18 it took a layup by Mauri Wells to cap a second half comeback victory by Armstrong, 62-60.

The Lady Pirates trailed by as much as 15 in the game, but with just over four minutes to go in the game Armstrong managed to tie the game up at 56-all.

Then with 13.6 second to go and the score at 60-60 Armstrong made the most of its final possession as Demisha Mills found an open Wells in the paint, who hit the game winner with just 1.7 on the clock.

Against Anderson (SC) on Nov. 19 it was the Pirates that had to try and hold of the Trojans from making a second half comeback.

Armstrong led by 10 at halftime, 28-18, and led by as much as 14 in the second half, but thanks to a flurry of three-point buckets Anderson tied the game at 47 points apiece with 3:06 remaining.

But freshman Dee Hayward sealed the game for Armstrong with four free throws in the final 30 second to give the Pirates a 53-50 win.

The Lady Pirates are next in action at home against Costal Georgia on Nov. 22 at 5:30 pm.

Men’s Basketball (1-0)

The Armstrong Atlantic State University men’s basketball team opened up the season this week with a win on the road at Wingate, 82-74.

In a close contest with the Bulldogs the Pirates used a 9-0 run that began with 7:53 to go in the game, extending a one-point lead into a 70-60 margin over Wingate.

Armstrong closed out the win over Wingate by making four free throws in the final 20 seconds of the match.

The Pirates had a great shooting night as a team, going 49 percent from the floor, 81.8 percent from the line, and placing all five starters in double digits for points.

The Armstrong men’s squad is action again on Nov. 22 at 7:30 pm against Costal Georgia, and then later in the week the Pirates travel to Lakeland, Fla. to take part in the Holiday Inn South Ledger Classic.