Mount Olive, NC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their season opening match on Saturday morning in a 27-1 final score.
The Warriors totaled four shots with three being on goal in the loss. Lauryn Esposito had the lone goal of the game for Southern Wesleyan. Mack Moreau picked up the assist. Of the six ground balls, Moreau had two. Fianna Steves won two of the three draw controls. Caroline Lark started in the goal for the Warriors and had two saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Mount Olive 27, Southern Wesleyan 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Mount Olive (1-0)
How It Happened
The Trojans took the early lead as Rileigh White scored the first goal of the season for Mount Olive. They pushed on with three more goals before a foul in the eight meter allowed Fianna Steves to take a shot on the goal. However, Steves' shot was saved from the back of the cage by Ruby Burandt. Bria Hamilton put up back-to-back goals for the Trojans. Marley Kierstead took a shot on the goal, but could not found the back of the cage. Another foul in the eight meter allowed Aleiza Manns to take a free position attempt, but Burandt saved the ball to keep the Warriors off the board.
Mount Olive continued the intensity in the second quarter as Logan Hibbard and Hailey Morgan each scored. A goal by Caroline Clark allowed the Trojans to force the clock to run with just under thirteen minutes left in the quarter. Fianna Steves won the draw, but the Warriors could not maintain control of the ball as the Trojans picked up a ground ball and sent the ball to Rileigh White to score the eleventh goal of the game. Caroline Lark saved an attack by Alexa Fitzgerald, but the Trojans continued to extend their lead as a goal by Fitzgerald allowed them to take a 17-0 point lead at halftime.
The Trojans would not relent in the third quarter as Hailey Morgan scored back-to-back goals early in the third quarter. Logan Hibbard passed the ball over to Anna Greco to score the twentieth goal of the game for the Trojans. Southern Wesleyan took the ball down the field, but once again Mount Olive thwarted their attacks on the cage.
Goals by Jenna Mish and Leah Muscatello allowed Mount Olive to extend their lead to 26-0. The Warriors pushed on as a they cleared the ball down the field. Mack Moreau collected the ball and passed it over to Lauryn Esposito. Esposito sent the ball into the back of the cage to score the lone goal of the game for the Warriors. Mount Olive went on to win the game in a 27-1 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on February 14 as they travel to Hickory, NC to take on the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears at 4pm. The Warriors will host their home opener on February 20 as they welcome the UVA Wise Cavaliers to Central, SC.
