Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan had a record-breaking victory over the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in a 26-14 final score.
The Warriors set nine new school records in the victory including four team records and five individual records. They totaled 51 shots and 47 shots on goal in the win for the first team school record. Lauryn Esposito led the team with 22 shots on goal. Behind her, Taylor Byrd had eight and Marley Kierstead had six. Esposito broke the school record in goals in a game as she scored 15. Byrd had five goals and Kierstead had four. Both Fianna Steves and Maree Hernandez had solo goals. Byrd continued the record setting day as she had eight assists to become the new leader in assists in a single game.
Southern Wesleyan won 17 draw controls with Fianna Steves winning eight. Mack Moreau won six and Aleiza Manns had two. The Warriors caused 22 turnovers. Steves set the new school record in caused turnovers in a game as she had 11. They picked up 33 ground balls with Steve picking up 10. Lauryn Esposito had six ground balls and Mack Moreau had five. Kelsee McKay played all sixty minutes in cage and saved 10 balls from reaching the back of the cage.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 26, Lees-McRae 14
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-8 / CC 1-2) Lees-McRae (0-6 / CC 0-3)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan attacked the cage quickly as Taylor Byrd sent the ball into the back of the net. They pushed on as Lauryn Esposito scored to extend the Warriors lead to 2-0. The Warriors continued to attack the cage with more attacks by Mack Moreau and Esposito, but Chloe O'Neal saved both attacks from finding the cage. Lees-McRae fought back as Irelynd Manning scored back-to-back goals just seconds apart to tie the game. Melody Ripley got the ball to Shannon Korovich to put the Bobcats on top. However, it was short lived as Taylor Byrd and Marley Kierstead put up back-to-back goals to regain Southern Wesleyan's lead. Byrd sent the ball to right in front of cage to Lauryn Esposito who scored to give the Warriors a 5-3 goal lead. Fianna Steves caused O'Neal to turn the ball over with just over five minutes on the clock and flipped the ball over to Esposito who scored once again. Manning was able to get the ball into the cage once again, but Southern Wesleyan countered with another goal by Esposito to regain the Warriors three goal lead. Marley Kierstead flipped the ball into the goal to give the Warriors a four goal lead. With one Warrior in the penalty box, Fianna Steves took the ball to the cage to give the Warriors' a 9-5 goal lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Warriors continued the pressure in the second quarter as Taylor Byrd collected a rebounded shot by Lauryn Esposito and put it into the back of the cage. However, Nim Castro got the ball over to Irelynd Manning who scored to put the Bobcats back within four goals of the Warriors. Shots by Marley Kierstead and Taylor Byrd were saved by Chloe O'Neal to keep the Warriors from extending their lead further. However, the Warriors maintained the pressure as Lauryn Esposito scored. Mack Moreau won the next draw control and got the ball over to Esposito. Esposito sent the ball to Marley Kierstead who put the ball into the back of the cage to give the Warriors a 12-6 goal advantage. Once again the Bobcats countered the Warriors goal with a goal of their own out of the stick of Manning. With just over seven minutes left on the clock, Byrd passed the ball over to Esposito who scored once again. Esposito continued to challenge the Bobcats as she scored back-to-back goals to extend the Warriors lead to eight. Lees-McRae fought back as Shannon Korovich and Anna Stutts each scored. Goals by Marley Kierstead and Lauryn Esposito allowed the Warriors to take an 18-9 goal lead at halftime.
Southern Wesleyan maintained their intensity in the third quarter. Fianna Steves won the first draw of the quarter. Steves sent the ball down to Lauryn Esposito who flipped it into the goal to give the Warriors a ten goal lead and force the running clock. Esposito attacked the cage again as she collected a pass from Taylor Byrd and scored another goal. Byrd passed the ball to Esposito once again and she fired it off into the cage. A goal by Irelynd Manning allowed the Bobcats to come to 10-21 behind the Warriors. With just over seven minutes left on the clock, Esposito passed the ball over to Maree Hernandez to score her career first goal of the season. Lees-McRae challenged back with goals by Shannon Korovich and Nim Castro, but a goal by Taylor Byrd kept the Warriors on top 23-11.
The Bobcats kicked off the final quarter of the game with a goal by KcKenzie Mellen to put them back within ten. However, Taylor Byrd scored shortly afterwards to put Southern Wesleyan back on top by eleven. Mack Moreau and Aleiza Manns each took shots on the goal, but Tori Meiss got in the way of the attacks to keep the Warriors from extending their lead any further. However, Lauryn Esposito collected a pass from Taylor Byrd and flipped it into the back of the cage. A last minute goal by Esposito off an assist by Byrd gave the Warriors a 26-14 goal victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on March 20 as they host the Fort Lewis Skyhawks at 5pm in non-conference action. They will then will travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries. The Warriors will return to Childs Field on March 30 to host the Emmanuel Lions.
