Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon in a 27-4 final score.
The Warriors took 14 shots with eight being on goal in the loss to the Crusaders. Lauryn Esposito led the team with four shots on goal while Fianna Steves had two shots on goal. Esposito recorded three goals during the game. The other goal came out of the stick of Steves. Both Taylor Byrd and Marley Kierstead had assists.
Southern Wesleyan won 12 draw controls. Lauryn Esposito won five draws and Fianna Steves won three. Mack Moreau and Aleiza Manns each won two draws. Of the 10 caused turnovers, both Steves and Mack Moreau had three apiece. The Warriors picked up 21 total ground balls with Steves leading the team with six. Caroline Lark started in the cage and played thirty-four minutes while recording four saves. Hannon Graybeal and Kelsee McKay each had three saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 27, Southern Wesleyan 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-13 / CC 1-6) Belmont Abbey (11-5 / CC 8-1)
How It Happened
Belmont Abbey struck quickly in the first quarter as Haley Adamo passed the ball over to Hailey Carroll who sent the ball into the cage. The Warriors countered seconds later as Taylor Byrd got the ball inside the eight meter to Lauryn Esposito. Esposito drilled the ball into the back of the cage to tie the game up 1-1. Back-to-back goals by Triniti Cassidy allowed the Crusaders to regain and extend their lead. The Crusaders would not relent as they continued to attack the cage. The Warriors challenged with another shot out of the stick of Lauryn Esposito, but the ball sailed high over the cage.
The Crusaders kicked off the second quarter as Emma Pherson scored their fourteenth goal of the afternoon. Lauryn Esposito and Mack Moreau each took shots on the goal, but neither shot was able to find the cage. A foul in the eight meter allowed Esposito to come up to the arc to take the free position shot. Esposito sent the ball into the back of the cage to put the Warriors down 14-2. Katelyn Miller picked up a ground ball and put the ball into the cage. With just over five minutes left in the half, Marley Kierstead passed the ball over to Fianna Steves. Steves put the ball into the cage. Belmont Abbey did not relent as Kacey Kubarewicz and Hailey Carroll put in back-to-back goals to give them a 17-3 at halftime.
A foul in the eight meter allowed Abbey McCarthy to score. Goals by McCarthy and Kami Sauceda allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to seventeen. Fianna Steves sent the ball toward the cage, but Ella Carlino saved the attack from paying off. Mack Moreau got the ball over to Aleiza Manns who sent it to the cage, but once again Carlino saved the attack from paying off. Southern Wesleyan went on to take more shots on the cage, but none of them were able to pay off. A last minute goal by Faith Piser allowed Belmont Abbey to extend their lead to 21-3.
Belmont Abbey scored quickly in the fourth quarter as Triniti Cassidy put the ball into the cage. Back-to-back goals by Hailey Carroll and Scout Chaffin allowed the Crusaders to extend their lead to nineteen. Emily Burchette picked up a ground ball and cleared it down the field. The Warriors passed it around the eight meter before getting the ball over to Lauryn Esposito. Esposito scored her third goal of the afternoon to put Southern Wesleyan down 24-4. The Crusaders scored three more times to win the game in a 27-4 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on April 10 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 6pm. They will travel to Wilson, NC on April 13 to take on the Barton Bulldogs. The Warriors will wrap up the regular season on April 19 as they host Warren Wilson at 7pm.
