Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the non-conference match-up against the Fort Lewis Skyhawks on Wednesday evening in a 25-3 final score.
The Warriors had 12 shots with seven being on goal in the loss to the Skyhawks. Lauryn Esposito led the team with five shots on goal. Taylor Byrd had two shots on goal. Esposito scored three goals and both Byrd and Aleiza Manns each had assists.
Southern Wesleyan caused 13 turnovers with Lauryn Esposito causing four of them. Caroline Lark led the team with five ground balls. Both Lexi Richardson and Esposito had three ground balls. Esposito won six of the 13 draw controls. Caroline Lark started in goal and played thirty three minutes while making nine saves. Both Kelsee McKay and Hannon Graybeal played eleven minutes in cage. Graybeal had three saves and McKay had one.
Game Vitals
Final: Fort Lewis 25, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-9) Fort Lewis (1-3)
How It Happened
The Skyhawks attacked quickly as goals by Phoebe Ramirez and Sydney Tannaci within the first minute of the game gave them a 2-0 goal lead. A foul in the eight meter allowed them to score their third goal of the game in the form a free position shot out of the stick of Mikki Brown. The Warriors fought back as Lauryn Esposito collected the ball and took it all the way to the cage on her own. Fort Lewis pushed on with goals by Haley Dostie and Brown. Southern Wesleyan countered as a foul in the eight meter sent Taylor Byrd to the arc. Byrd sent the ball toward the cage by Caley Lay saved the ball from finding the back of the net. Lauryn Esposito attacked the cage again, but Lay would not let the attacks pay off. The Warriors maintained the pressure as Taylor Byrd passed the ball over to Esposito who sent it into the back of the cage with just over twenty seconds left in the quarter. A last second goal by Dostie allowed the Skyhawks to extend their lead to 9-2.
Fort Lewis maintained the intensity in the second quarter with shots by Kaylin Vanzant and Sydney Tannaci, but Caroline Lark stood strong in the cage to keep them from extending their lead further. Their attacks paid off as Caprietta Abbadess scored for the Skyhawks. Haley Dostie passed the ball over to Piper Price who scored to put the Skyhawks on top 11-2. A free position shot by Kayleigh Bauroth allowed Fort Lewis to force a running clock situation against the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan took shots out of the sticks of Taylor Byrd and Lauryn Esposito, but neither could find the cage. Fort Lewis led 15-2 at halftime.
The Skyhawks continued to distance themselves from the Warriors in the third quarter as Kaylin Vanzant and Sydney Tannaci each scored. Mack Moreau's shot went wide. The Warriors would not relent as Taylor Byrd sent the ball to the cage, but Olivia Tilbury saved the Warriors' attack from paying off. With just under two minutes left in the quarter, Victoria Barletta scored the nineteenth goal of the game for Fort Lewis.
Fort Lewis took a 20-2 goal lead early in the final quarter as Zoi Delgado scored off a pass from Piper Price. Sierra Lund took an attack of the cage, but Kelsee McKay prevented her from extending the Skyhawks lead further. Aleiza Manns got the ball over to Lauryn Esposito. Esposito flipped the ball into the back of the cage to give her a hat trick on the day. Fort Lewis pushed on as Allie Elliot, Sierra Lund and Zoi Delgado each scored. The Skyhawks went on to claim a 25-3 goal victory over the Warriors.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Spartanburg, SC on March 23 to take on the Converse Valkyries at 1pm. They will then return to Central, SC and Childs Field on March 30 to host the Emmanuel Lions. The Warriors will travel to take on the North Greenville Crusaders on April 2.
