Greenwood, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the opening game of the season to the Lander Bearcats in an 18-4 final on Wednesday evening.

The Warriors put nine shots in the cage against the Bearcats.  Kelsey Hawkins and Tabitha Beecher led the team with two shots on goal apiece.  Four Warriors scored during the game, and Betsy Bovee had the lone assist of the game.  The Warriors collected nine draw controls with Bovee and Haylee Cureton leading the team with two each.  Southern Wesleyan had nine draw controls.  Kaeleigh McDaniel collected eight saves.

 
Game Vitals

Final: Lander 18, Southern Wesleyan 4

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Lander (1-0)

 
How It Happened

Lander took the first goal of the game as Mary Claire Robinson put the ball into the back of the cage.  The Bearcats continued to push ahead despite several saves by Kaeleigh McDaniel, taking a 4-0 lead over the Warriors with just over 25 minutes remaining in the first half.  Jesse Soles and Tabitha Beecher each took shots on the cage, but the Bearcats defense thwarted their attempts of cutting into Lander's lead.  The Bearcats led 13-0 at half.

The Warriors continued the pressure as Kelsey Hawkins took a free position shot, but Brenah Sarell saved the ball.  However, seconds later, Tabitha Beecher collected the ball and put into the back of the cage to put the Warriors on the board.  Despite trailing the Bearcats, the Warriors maintained the pressure as Betsy Bovee passed the ball to Hawkins who drilled it into the cage to put the Warriors down 18-2.  Back-to-back goals by Amy Pfefferkorn and Bovee put the Warriors behind the Bearcats 18-4.  Lander went on to win the game 18-4.

 
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host their home opener on February 13 at 1 p.m. as they welcome the Mars Hill Lions to Childs Field.  They will then travel to Greenville, TN to take on the Tusculum Pioneers on February 20 at 1 p.m.