Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Emmanuel Lions on Saturday afternoon in a 24-6 final score.
The Warriors 22 shots with nine being on goal. Lauryn Esposito led the team with nine shots on goal. Both Taylor Byrd and Abbey Kovalcik had two shots on goal. Esposito led the team with four goals. Both Byrd and Mack Moreau had solo goals. Byrd had four assists.
Southern Wesleyan won 12 draw controls with Lauryn Esposito leading the team with five. Fianna Steves won four draws and Aleiza Manns won two. The Warriors caused nine turnovers with Manns leading the team with three. Of the 25 ground balls, Kelsee McKay had four. Caroline Lark started in cage and played thirty-two minutes while having four saves. McKay played twenty minutes in goal and had four saves. The remaining two saves came out of the stick of Hannon Graybeal.
Game Vitals
Final: Emmanuel 24, Southern Wesleyan 6
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-11 / CC 1-4) Emmanuel (10-4 / CC 3-3)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan was quick to attack the cage with a shot by Lauryn Esposito, but Laila Sampson saved the attack from paying off. The Lions countered as Lauren Kuschel scored the first goal of the game. Emmanuel pushed on with back-to-back goals by Paige Murphy. The Lions would not back down as they scored two more times to extend their lead to 6-0. The Warriors pressured back as Abbey Kovalcik and Lauryn Esposito each sent the ball toward the cage, but neither attack paid off. Esposito collected a pass from Taylor Byrd and sent the ball into the cage to put Southern Wesleyan on the board. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Esposito sent the ball into the cage a second time with just a minute left on the clock to put the Warriors behind the Lions 8-2.
Emmanuel came out quickly in the second quarter with shots by Kristie Fisher and Lauren Kuschel, but Kelsee McKay saved the attacks from allowing the Lions from extending their lead further. However, the Lions would not relent as Kuschel got the ball past McKay to extend Emmanuel's lead to 9-2. With just over six minutes on the clock, a foul in the eight meter allowed Taylor Byrd to go to the line for a free position shot. Byrd sent the ball into the cage. Ashley Mercker and Kristie Fisher each put the ball into the cage. Taylor Byrd passed the ball over to Mack Moreau. Moreau flipped the ball into the cage to put the Warriors back within eight goals of the Lions. Emmanuel scored once more to give the Lions a 13-4 goal lead at half.
The Lions pushed on as Meghan Jennings sent the ball over to Ashley Mercker to score the fourteenth goal of the game for Emmanuel and force the running clock. Emmanuel would not relent as Mikaela Austin scored two more goals. Lauryn Esposito countered as she took the ball all the way to the cage to score. Esposito continued to attack the cage, but Madison Duncan and the Lions defense saved each attack from paying off. Paige Murphy and Demi Czynski were able to score to extend the Lions lead to 18-5.
An early goal by Meghan Jennings allowed Emmanuel to extend their lead to fourteen. Southern Wesleyan fought back as Lauryn Esposito took a shot on goal, but once again Madison Duncan thwarted the attack from paying off. Emmanuel scored twice more out of the sticks of Mikaela Austin and Paige Murphy. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Abbey Kovalcik and Fianna Steves each attacked the cage, but Duncan and the Lions defense stayed strong. However, the Warriors attacks finally paid off as Taylor Byrd passed the ball over to Lauryn Esposito. Esposito flipped the ball into the cage for the Warriors sixth goal of the afternoon. The Lions scored three more times to win the game in a 24-6 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Tigerville, SC on April 2 to take on the North Greenville University Crusaders. They will then return to Central, SC on April 6 as they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Joe R Gilbert Track and Field. The Warriors will remain at home on April 10 to host Young Harris.
