Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their final home game of the season to the Converse Valkyries on Wednesday in a 19-6 final score.

The Warriors totaled 24 shots and 19 shots on goal in the loss to the Valkyries.  Lauryn Esposito led the team with seven shots on goal with Lexi Richardson following with four.  Esposito led the team with four goals with both Jocelyn Cosgrove and Yael Echeverria recording solo goals.  Cosgrove and Echeverria both picked up assists.

Southern Wesleyan won 12 draws with Fianna Steves leading the team with six.  Lauryn Esposito won three draws and Jocelyn Cosgrove won two.  The Warriors caused 15 turnovers during the game.  Caroline Lark and Steves each picked up five ground balls.  Lark played all sixty minutes in goal and saved the ball six times.

Game Vitals

Final: Converse 19, Southern Wesleyan 6

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-8 / CC 1-6) Converse (8-6 / CC 4-2)

How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan attacked quickly as Lauryn Esposito took a shot on the goal, but Reagan Collins prevented the Warriors from taking the early lead.  The Valkyries countered as a foul in the eight meter allowed Gencie Coan to score the first goal of the game.  The Warriors countered as Lauryn Esposito collected the ball and raced down the field to score and tie the game up.  Ryleigh Schaeffer scored the Valkyries second goal.  Southern Wesleyan fought back as Jocelyn Cosgrove won the next draw and quickly put the ball into the cage to keep the game tied up.  The Warriors continued their attacks as Yael Echeverria passed the ball over to Lauryn Esposito for her to score her second goal of the evening.  Echeverria attacked again as she put the ball into the cage herself to extend the Warriors lead to 4-2.  However, goals by Brenna Everette and Schaeffer allowed the Valkyries to tie the game back up.  With sixteen seconds on the clock, a goal by Everette allowed Converse to take the lead.

Converse continued their attacks in the second quarter, but Caroline Lark stood strong in the cage to defend and prevent the Valkyries' attacks from paying off.  A foul in the eight meter allowed Brenna Everette to score a free position goal and extend the Valkyries lead.  The Warriors countered as Lauryn Esposito scored once again to keep Southern Wesleyan within two goals of the visiting Valkyries.  Fianna Steves and Lexi Richardson each took shots on the goal, but both attacks were saved from meeting the back of the cage by Reagan Collins.  The Valkyries would not relent as they led 9-5 at the end of the first half.

The Valkyries kicked off the third quarter with a goal by Karter Lauer.  A foul in the eight meter allowed Kali Letcher to take her first shot of the game, but Reagan Collins protected the cage to prevent the Warriors from cutting into their lead any further.  Back-to-back goals by Rhianna Warner and Hailey Obenchain extended Converse's lead to eight goals.  Jocelyn Cosgrove passed the ball over to Lauryn Esposito who fired the ball into the cage.  However, Converse would not relent as Madelyn Robinson put in a goal of her own.

Converse forced a running clock in the fourth quarter as Brenna Everette scored once again for the Valkyries.  The Warriors countered as Lexi Richardson took back-to-back shots on the goal, but Reagan Collins continued to protect the cage.  The Valkyries fouled Lauryn Esposito in the eight meter, but once again Collins prevented the Warriors from cutting into their lead.  Teresa Wright and Madelyn Robinson each scored for Converse.  Despite a late shot by Fianna Steves, the Warriors were unable to pass the Valkyries as they dropped the game in a 19-6 final score.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the 2023 regular season on the road.  They will travel to Due West, SC on April 15 to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet at 1 p.m.  The Warriors will then take on the Coker Cobras on April 18 in Hartsville, SC.  Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 21 as they travel up to the mountains of Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats.