Wise, VA – Southern Wesleyan fell to the UVA Wise Cavaliers on a rainy Saturday afternoon in a 19-5 final score.
The Warriors took 14 shots with 11 being on target in the loss. Ella McCowen and Rinna Beth Brooker each had four shots on goal. McCowen and Mack Moreau led the team with two goals scored each. Aleiza Manns also picked up a goal. Both Brooker and Alexa Simpson had assists.
Southern Wesleyan won eight draw controls with both Rinna Beth Brooker and Fianna Steves winning three. The Warriors caused six turnovers and picked up 13 ground balls. Abbey Kovalcik and Lexi Richardson each caused two turnovers. Kovalcik went on to lead the team with three ground balls. Carolina Lark and Ava Lombardi shared time in the cage on Saturday. Lark had four saves while Lombardi recorded three.
Game Vitals
Final: UVA Wise 19, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-3) UVA Wise (3-0)
How It Happened
UVA Wise charged out of the gate as Abby Stoffelen scored back-to-back goals within the first minute to give the Cavaliers the early advantage. They continued to press ahead as Logen Davis sent the ball into the cage. Rinna Beth Brooker won the draw and took the ball all the way down the field before taking a shot on the cage. Brooker's shot was saved by Katie Michaels to keep the Warriors from cutting into the Cavaliers lead. A foul in the eight meter allowed Ella McCowen to take a free position shot. McCowen sent the ball into the cage to put the Warriors on the board. The Warriors continued to challenge as Mack Moreau scored to put the Warriors within one goal of the Cavaliers. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Rinna Beth Brooker got the ball over to Aleiza Manns. Manns sent the ball into the cage to tie the game up at three goals apiece. Southern Wesleyan took the lead in the final seconds of the quarter as Moreau scored her second goal of the game.
The Cavaliers went on the attack early in the second quarter as Caitlyn Schultz and Issie Brown scored to give UVA Wise back the lead. They attempted to take the lead further as Schultz sent the ball toward the cage, but Caroline Lark saved the attack from paying off. The Cavaliers would not relent as they scored several more times to extend on their lead to 14-4 at halftime.
UVA Wise would not relent as Logen Davis sent the ball into the cage. The Warriors fought back as Rinna Beth Brooker took a shot on the goal, but once again Katie Michaels saved the ball from reaching the net. The Cavaliers scored a couple more times as Leslie Clay and Abby Schrafft each picked up goals. Alexa Simpson passed the ball over to Ella McCowen who scored her second goal of the game. Despite a couple more attacks on the cage by McCowen and Brooker, the Warriors fell to the Cavaliers in a 19-5 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return home on February 22 as they host the Coker Cobras at 1pm. They will then host the Catawba Indians on February 26 before resuming Conference Carolinas action on March 1 as they welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Central, SC.
