Tigerville, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the North Greenville Crusaders on Tuesday evening in a 21-4 final score.
The Warriors took 11 shots with nine being on goal. Lauryn Esposito led the team with seven shots on goal. Esposito went on to score three of the four goals in the game. The other goal came out of the stick of Marley Kierstead. Taylor Byrd picked up two assists.
Southern Wesleyan won six draw controls with Lauryn Esposito having three on her own. The Warriors caused three turnovers. Of the nine ground balls, Mack Moreau had three. Moreau was followed by Fianna Steves and Lauryn Esposito with two ground balls. The Warriors totaled ten saves with Caroline Lark leading the team with seven.
Game Vitals
Final: North Greenville 21, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-12 / CC 1-5) North Greenville (4-10 / CC 3-3)
How It Happened
The Crusaders attacked the cage quickly as Kylie Keen collected a pass from Emma Mayew and sent it into the cage. Southern Wesleyan challenged right back as Lauryn Esposito edged past the Crusader defense, but Ainsley Woodham saved the challenge to keep the Warriors off the board. The Warriors would not relent as Taylor Byrd sent the ball in the eight meter to Esposito. Esposito fired off a shot that went into the back of the cage to tie the game up. Just over a minute later, Byrd collected the ball and passed it over to Esposito once again. For the second time in the game, Esposito's shot found the back of the net to give the Warriors the lead. It was short lived as a goal by Katie Keller allowed the Crusaders to tie the game back up. Fianna Steves attempted to regain the Warriors lead, but her shot was blocked. North Greenville pushed on with goals by Lauren Crane, Kylie Keen and Emma Mayew to take a 5-2 goal lead at the end of the quarter.
North Greenville picked up where they left off in the second quarter with quick goals out of the sticks of Erin Wheaton and Kylie Keen. The Warriors fought back with shots by Lauryn Esposito and Marley Kierstead, but the Crusaders thwarted the attacks. McCayla Richard passed the ball up to Lauren Crane who stepped between the Warriors defense to score the Crusaders tenth goal of the game. The Crusaders pushed on to lead 12-2 going into halftime.
McCayla Richard scored the first goal of the third quarter for the Crusaders. The Warriors fought back as Lauryn Esposito took a shot on the goal, but Ainsley Woodham got right in front of the ball to prevent the Warriors from cutting into the Crusaders lead. A foul in the eight meter allowed Marley Kierstead to go to the line for a free position shot. Kierstead sent her ball into the back of the cage for the Warriors third goal of the afternoon. The Warriors pushed on as Lauryn Esposito picked up the ball and got it into the cage to put Southern Wesleyan back within eleven goals of the Crusaders.
North Greenville continued their attack in the fourth quarter as Katie Keller scored with just over thirteen minutes left on the clock. Taylor Byrd and Lauryn Esposito each attacked the cage as they tried to extend the Warriors lead, but Courtney Miller and the Crusader defense saved the ball from meeting the back of the cage. Back-to-back goals by Kayla Harris and Katie Keller allowed the Crusaders to extend their lead to 18-4. North Greenville pushed on to win the game in a 21-4 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return home on April 6 as they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 1pm on Joe R Gilbert Track and Field Complex. They will remain at home on April 10 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions. The Warriors will travel to Wilson, NC on April 13 to take on the Barton Bulldogs.
