Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Barton Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in a 23-3 final score.
The Warriors totaled 10 shots on goal in the loss to the Bulldogs. Rinna Beth Brooker led the team with two goals in the game. Lexi Richardson picked up the other goal, and Ella McCowen had the lone assist.
Southern Wesleyan won eight draw controls. Both Fianna Steves and Ella McCowen had three draws. Of the nine caused turnovers, Steves had three. Steves went on to pick up four ground balls. Lexi Richardson and Mack Moreau each had three ground balls. Hannon Graybeal had five saves in cage and Caroline Lark had four.
Game Vitals
Final: Barton 23, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-6 / CC 0-2) Barton (2-3 / CC 1-0)
How It Happened
The Bulldogs went on the offensive early as Berghan Balparda was able to get the ball over to Kate Matuza off a free position to score. Barton challenged again, but Caroline Lark was able to save the attack on the cage by Tamia Marshall. However, the Bulldogs went on to score three goals in a row to extend their lead to 4-0. The Bulldogs would not relent as Avery Woodcock and Kloe Martin scored back-to-back goals. With just under five minutes on the clock, a foul in the eight meter allowed Rinna Beth Brooker to take a free position attempt. Brooker sent the ball into the back of the cage to get the Warriors on the board. Ella McCowen won the next draw control and got the ball over to Aleiza Manns who fired off a shot on the cage. However, Savannah Graves saved the attack from paying off.
Barton extended their lead early in the second quarter as Danielle Laster scored off a free position attempt. Kate Matuza sent the ball toward the cage, but Hannon Graybeal saved her shot from finding the back of the cage. The Bulldogs pushed on with a couple more goals. Ella McCowen took another shot on the goal, but once again her shot was saved from finding the back of the cage. Barton led 16-1 at halftime.
Southern Wesleyan continued to put up a fight in the third quarter. A foul by the Bulldogs allowed Rinna Beth Brooker to take another free position shot. Brooker's shot found the back of the cage for her second goal of the afternoon. Mack Moreau and Alexa Simpson each took shots on the goal, but Avery Gandolf collected each attack to prevent Southern Wesleyan from cutting further into Barton's lead.
Barton pushed on as Julia Erickson scored early in the final quarter of the game to extend the Bulldogs lead to 20-2. Fianna Steves took the ball toward the cage, but Avery Gandolf would not let her attack pay off. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight as Ella McCowen passed the ball up to right inside the eight meter Lexi Richardson. Richardson ripped the ball into the goal for the Warriors' third goal of the game. However, Barton scored two more times to win the game in a 23-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the University of Bridgeport on March 4 at 4pm. They will then travel to Spartanburg, SC on March 8 to take on the Converse Valkyries before traveling to Cleveland, GA on March 11 to take on the Truett-McConnell Bears. The Warriors will return to Central, SC on March 15 to host the Chowan Hawks at 1pm on Joe R Gilbert Track and Field.
