University of North Carolina at Pembroke Women's Soccer

Having made his mark as the only coach in the history of the UNCP women’s soccer program, Lars Andersson enters his 25th season as the coach of the Braves, compiling a 357-180-44 clip in 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Currently holding a 267-144-4 record as the UNCP gaffer, Andersson has led the Black & Gold to seven appearances (2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) in the NCAA postseason, including second round showings in both 2008 and 2010, as well as the 2017 Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship. During the 2021 season, Anderson's team captured the Conference Carolinas Tournament title. The Black & Gold repeated as Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions under the leadership of Andersson in 2022, and made it a three-peat during the 2023 season. The run of success has also included final listings in the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region rankings in 14 out of the last 20 seasons. The two-time (2003, 2016) Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year has mentored 12 All-Americans, as well as six PBC Freshman of the Year recipients, two Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year winners, three Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year honors, 73 all-conference selections, 19 PBC All-Tournament players, 16 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament players, three Conference Carolinas Tournament MVPs, 29 all-state honorees, 38 all-region players, one Disney/NSCAA Goalkeeper of the Week, and four Disney/United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week. In the classroom, the Braves have produced four NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Americans, four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, two Conference Carolinas Scholar Athletes of the Year, and a PBC female Student-Athlete of the Year honoree, while also placing 60 players on the PBC Women's Soccer All-Academic Team. Prior to his time in Pembroke, Andersson served as the women’s soccer head coach at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky., as well as the men’s coach at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga. In his two-year stint at Cumberland, Andersson coached two all-Americans, a pair of all-region players, 11 all-conference players, four academic all-Americans and 16 academic all-conference recipients. On his way to 1999 Mid-South Conference coach of the year accolades, he also led the Lady Patriots to the league’s regular season title, as well as a No. 14 national ranking. While compiling a 62-25-3 record as coach of the Reinhardt men’s team, Andersson helped guide the 1998 Eagles to a 21-1-1 record, as well as spot in the NJCAA national championship game. Having earned region and district coach of the year honors at season’s end, he was one of just four candidates for national coach of the year honors as well. A native of Vuollerim, Sweden, as well as a former player on Vuollerim SK (1985-87), Andersson made the trek to Clarksville, Tenn., as a high school exchange student in 1987. Following the completion of his freshman year at Austin Peay State, he returned to his native land to fulfill his duties as an army ranger in the Swedish Military before returning back to the U.S. to complete his education. Andersson graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cumberland College in 1994 and earned his master’s degree from Union College in 1998. Andersson and the former Carla Kehrier of Plymouth, Mich., are the proud parents of four daughters – Aspen, Isabella, Emelia and Olivia. The family currently resides in Clayton. HEAD COACHING RECORD Season Team Overall Pct. Conference Pct. Conf Finish Postseason Reinhardt College (NJCAA)  1994  Reinhardt  9-8-0  .529  4-5-0  .444  1995  Reinhardt  11-5-0  .688  5-5-0  .500     1996  Reinhardt  7-8-2  .470  3-7-1  .318     1997  Reinhardt  14-3-0  .824  8-3-0  .727  1998  Reinhardt  21-1-1  .935  13-0-1  .964  NJCAA National Tournament Runner Up, Region Champions, Region Tournament Champions Total  62-25-3  .706  33-20-2 .618  Cumberland College (NAIA, Mid-South Conference)  1999  Cumberland  16-4-0  .800  6-0-0  1.000  1st  Conference Champions  2000  Cumberland  12-7-0  .632  5-1-0  .833  3rd Total  28-11-0  .718  11-1-0  .917  UNC Pembroke Braves (Peach Belt Conference)  2001  UNC Pembroke  7-9-1  .441  0-4-1  .100  T-6th  2002  UNC Pembroke  4-11-4  .316  0-6-1  .071  8th  2003  UNC Pembroke  13-5-0  .722  4-3-0  .571  T-4th  2004  UNC Pembroke   12-5-2  .684  3-3-2  .500  5th  2005  UNC Pembroke  13-6-1  .675  5-2-1  .688  4th  2006  UNC Pembroke  7-11-1  .395  3-5-1  .389  T-6th  2007  UNC Pembroke  12-6-1  .658  3-4-1  .438  6th  2008  UNC Pembroke  19-3-1  .848  6-1-1  .813  2nd  NCAA Tournament  2009  UNC Pembroke  10-8-1  .553  4-5-1  .450  T-6th  2010  UNC Pembroke  16-4-2  .773  7-2-1  .750  3rd  NCAA Tournament  2011  UNC Pembroke  9-6-3  .583  4-4-2  .500  6th  2012  UNC Pembroke  10-7-3  .575  5-5-1  .500  7th  2013  UNC Pembroke  7-10-2  .421  4-5-2  .455  7th  2014  UNC Pembroke  11-5-3  .658  6-3-2  .636  4th  2015     UNC Pembroke  8-9-1  .472  6-4-1  .591  5th  2016    UNC Pembroke  12-4-2  .722  9-1-2  .833  2nd  2017  UNC Pembroke  15-5-1  .738  7-2-1  .750  4th  PBC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament  2018  UNC Pembroke  10-5-1  .656  6-3-1  .650  T-3rd  2019  UNC Pembroke  14-5-1  .725  8-3-0  .727  3rd  NCAA Tournament  2020  UNC Pembroke  6-4-1  .591  6-3-1  .650  4th UNC Pembroke Braves (Conference Carolinas)  2021  UNC Pembroke  15-5-0  .750  11-1-0  .917  2nd  CC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament  2022  UNC Pembroke  16-3-2  .810  10-1-1  .875  3rd  CC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament  2023  UNC Pembroke  12-4-3  .711  10-1-3  .821  1st  CC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament  2024  UNC Pembroke  9-4-4  .647  8-0-4  .833  2nd  2025      UNC Pembroke  10-7-1  .583  9-3-1  .731  3rd UNC Pembroke: 277-151-42  .634  144-74-32  .640 NJCAA Total 62-25-3  .706  33-20-2  .618 NAIA Total 28-11-0  .718  11-1-0  .917 NCAA Total 277-151-42  .634  144-74-32  .640 Total 367-187-45  .650  188-95-34  .647 Updated: November 2025

Padilla brings coaching experience to the Braves following stints as assistant coach for the U18 Onslow Classic Soccer Association in 2014, head coach for the U18 and U15 Onslow Classic Soccer Association in 2013 and assistant coach for Jacksonville High School in 2013.  She helped to coach the U18 Onslow Classic Soccer Association to four championships as the Charlotte Invitational, CASL Shootout, Premiere League and Disney Showcase, while also ranking first in the state with a 24-3-2 record. With the Jacksonville Cardinals, the team advanced to the third round of the NCHSAA state playoffs. During her time as a student-athlete, Padilla amassed 5136 minutes on the field with 65 games played and 50 starts. The PBC Honor Roll honoree in 2012 and 2013 registered 10 goals, five of those game-winners,  and six assists in her four years on the field including 63 shots, 32 of which (.508) were on goal. She logged all 90 minutes in both the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 2010, was named PBC Defensive Player of the Week and assisted the UNCP defense in leading the Peach Belt Conference and ranking 12th in the nation in goals against average.  She graduated from UNC Pembroke in May of 2013 with her bachelor degree in health promotions and is currently pursuing a masters degree in physical education. She resides in Pembroke.Brittany Padilla