Ettrick, VA – Southern Wesleyan dropped a tough battle against the Virginia State Trojans on Monday afternoon in a 13-11 final score.

The Warriors had 29 shots with 18 being on goal against the Trojans.  Lauryn Esposito led the Warriors with 10 shots on goal, while both Taylor Byrd and Marley Kierstead followed with three shots on goal.  Esposito picked up six goals and one assist.  Kierstead had two goals with Fianna Steves, Taylor Byrd and Aleiza Manns each having solo goals.  Byrd led the Warriors with three assists.

Southern Wesleyan won 15 draw controls in the game with both Fianna Steves and Lauryn Esposito having four.  Of the 20 ground balls, Esposito had four and both Helen Posey and Kelsee McKay had three.  The Warriors caused 15 turnovers.  Kelsee McKay played all sixty minutes in cage for the Warriors and had five saves.

Game Vitals

Final: Virginia State 13, Southern Wesleyan 11

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-7) Virginia State (2-2)

How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan shot out of the gate on Monday afternoon as Lauryn Esposito quickly took two shots on the goal.  Callie Thompson thwarted each attack to keep the Warriors off the board.  The Warriors would not relent as Marley Kierstead sent the ball into the cage to put Southern Wesleyan on top.  The Trojans countered with a goal by Sarai Reyes-Roman.  However, the Warriors attacked again as Fianna Steves sent the ball over to Lauryn Esposito who flipped the ball into the cage to regain the advantage.  A foul in the eight meter allowed Steves to take a free position and she scored to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 3-1 with just over ten minutes left on the clock.  Southern Wesleyan continued to attack the cage with shots by Taylor Byrd, but the Trojans defense stood strong to keep them from extending their lead further.  Virginia State cut the lead down to one on a goal by Adrien Wise.  With just over two minutes on the clock, Grace Hall scored to tie the game up.  Hall got the ball to Wise to score a last second goal to give the Trojans a 4-3 goal lead.

Virginia State continued to push ahead with another goal by Sarai Reyes-Roman.  Taylor Byrd tried to cut into the Trojans lead as she sent the ball toward the cage, but Callie Thompson thwarted her attack.  The Trojans pushed on as a foul in the eight meter allowed Kayla Caroll-William to score the sixth goal of the game for Virginia State.  Nakiyah Jones sent the ball to the cage, but Southern Wesleyan countered with a goal out of the stick of Lauryn Esposito.  The Trojans scored once more in the second quarter.  Southern Wesleyan challenged with shots by Aleiza Manns, Taylor Byrd and Lauryn Esposito, but Callie Thompson and the Trojans defense blocked every attack.  Southern Wesleyan trailed Virginia State 8-4 at halftime.

The Trojans pushed on in the third quarter with a shot by Adrien Wise.  Mack Moreau sent the ball toward the cage, but the Trojans blocked her attack.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge with shots by Aleiza Manns and Lauryn Esposito, but none of the shots found the cage.  Virginia State pushed on with goals by Jhalin Hooks and Sarai Reyes-Rhoman.  The Warriors would not back down as Taylor Byrd passed the ball to Lauryn Esposito.  Esposito sent the ball into the cage for the fifth goal of the game for the Warriors.  They continued to cut into the Trojans lead as Esposito scored back-to-back goals.

Southern Wesleyan came to within four goals of Virginia State seconds into the fourth quarter as Lauryn Esposito passed the ball over to Aleiza Manns.  Manns sent the ball into the cage.  The Trojans pushed back with back-to-back shots by Rylie Banks, Kayla Caroll-William, Jhalin Hooks and Sarai Reyes-Roman, but Kelsee McKay and the Warriors defense defended the cage from their attacks.  Lauryn Esposito sent the ball toward the cage to cut the Trojans lead down to three.  However, Adrien Wise scored shortly afterwards to put Virginia State back on top by four.  Taylor Byrd got past the Trojans defense and sent the ball into the cage for a goal.  Southern Wesleyan continued to fight back as Lexi Richardson passed the ball over Marley Kierstead.  Kierstead put the ball into the cage.  However, the Warriors fell to the Trojans in a 13-11 final.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will resume Conference Carolinas action on March 9 as they travel to Murfreesboro, NC to take on the Chowan Hawks.  They will then host the Lees-McRae Bobcats on March 16.  The Warriors will welcome Fort Lewis to Central, SC on March 20.