Mount Olive, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the #24 University of Mount Olive Trojans on Thursday afternoon in a 20-2 final score.
 
The Warriors took 13 shots and nine shots on goal in the loss to the Trojans.  Tabitha Beecher led the team with six shots, four of which were on goal.  She was followed by Yael Echeverria with two shots on goal.  Both Beecher and Echeverria scored in the game.  Jairy Sandoval had five of the six draw controls for Southern Wesleyan.  Southern Wesleyan caused seven turnovers with Sandoval leading the team with four.  The Warriors collected nine ground balls throughout the contest.
 
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: Mount Olive 20, Southern Wesleyan 2
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-6 / CC 1-1) Mount Olive (3-3 / CC 1-0)
 
 
 
How It Happened
 
Mount Olive charged out of the gate as they scored four times in the first five minutes of play before Jairy Sandoval won a draw control.  Sandoval got the ball past the restraining line and got the ball to Tabitha Beecher.  Beecher wove around the Trojan defenders before firing the ball into the back of the cage to put the Warriors down 4-1.  The Trojans continued to push as a goal by Ali Davis allowed them to maintain a four goal advantage.
 
The Trojans continued the pressure as they kicked off the second quarter with a man-up goal by Ali Davis to put Mount Olive up 8-1.  Mount Olive would not relent with several shots by Meaghan Michaud and Mergot Coomes, but Kaeleigh McDaniel stayed strong in the cage to prevent the Trojans from extending their lead further.  However, the Trojans maintained their attacks as Morgan Paige got the ball past the Warriors defense to give them an eight goal lead over the Warriors.  The Warriors challenged back as Yael Echeverria took the ball down the field and into the cage to put the Warriors down 11-2 at halftime.
 
Southern Wesleyan challenged early as Tabitha Beecher took a shot on goal, but Anna James saved the ball from meeting the back of the cage to keep the Warriors from cutting into the Trojans' lead.  Mount Olive came out of the half strong as they score three goals to put them on top 14-2.  A last minute goal by Shaelyn Yermal allowed the Trojans to take a fifteen goal advantage to end the third quarter.
 
The Warriors continued to challenge in the final quarter of the game as Tabitha Beecher and Jairy Sandoval took shots on the goal, but Jane Hobbs would not let the Southern Wesleyan attacks pay off.  Mount Olive scored three more times in the fourth quarter.  Yael Echeverria took a last second shot on goal, but the Trojans went on to win the game in a 20-2 final score.
 
 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on March 12 as they travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries at 1 p.m.  They will then travel to Murfreesboro, NC to take on the Chowan Hawks on March 19 at 1:00 p.m.  The Warriors will return to Childs Field on March 26 at 1:00 p.m. to host the Erskine Flying Fleet.