Mars Hill, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Mars Hill Lions on Monday afternoon in a 15-5 final score.

The Warriors collected 19 shots and 13 shots on goal in the loss to the Lions.  Tabitha Beecher led the team with eight shots and five shots on goal.  Beecher was followed by Amy Pfefferkorn with five shots and four shots on goal.  Beecher recorded three of the five goals for the Warriors.  The other goals came off the sticks of Haylee Cureton and Pfefferkorn.  Pfefferkorn and Beach each had assists during the game.

Southern Wesleyan posted 15 draw controls with senior Jairy Sandoval leading the team with six.  Kelsey Hawkins and Jesse Soles each followed the three apiece.  Jocelyn Cosgrove caused the lone turnover for the Warriors.  The Warriors had 18 ground balls during the game with goalkeeper Kaeleigh McDaniel leading the team with nine.  McDaniel collected 13 saves during the game.

 
Game Vitals

Final: Mars Hill 15, Southern Wesleyan 5

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-2) Mars Hill (1-0)


 
How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan attacked the cage early as Tabitha Beecher scored the first goal of the game within the first forty seconds of the game.  However, Mars Hill countered with a goal by Alexa Tazzetta to tie the game 1-1.  The Lions took the lead on a free positon goal by Kiersten Foust.  Mars Hill pulled ahead, but the Warriors continued to pepper the cage with shots by Amy Pfefferkorn, Betsy Bovee and Haylee Cureton.  Pfefferkorn drilled the ball into the back of the cage to put the Warriors down 2-6 with just over fourteen minutes left to play in the first half.  The Lions scored three more goals to lead 9-2 at the half.

Mars Hill took the first goal of the second half as Sydney Joyce scored her third goal of the season.  Despite the Lions extending their lead, the Warriors continued to attack with shots by Bovee and Beecher.  Kaeleigh McDaniel and the Warriors defense stepped up to defend the goal, collecting several saves to keep the Lions from furthering their lead.  Southern Wesleyan's attacks paid off as Beecher scored her second goal of the game to put the Warriors down 3-13.  Beecher scored again for the Warriors to keep them within ten.  Beecher passed the ball up to Cureton, who put it into the back of the cage for her first collegiate goal.    Mars Hill went on to win the game 15-5.

 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will next travel to Greeneville, TN to take on the Tusculum Pioneers at 1 p.m. on February 20.  They will then host their home opener on February 27 as they welcome the Chowan Hawks to Childs Field for a 1 p.m. draw.  They will remain at home on March 6 to take on the Barton Bulldogs.