Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Chowan Hawks on Saturday afternoon in a 12-3 final score.
The Warriors totaled 34 shots with 29 being on target in the senior day Conference Carolinas match up. Rinna Beth Brooker led the team with nine shots on goal with Mack Moreau right behind her with seven. Brooker totaled four goals in the game. Moreau had three goals and both Hayley Billings and Ella McCowen scored twice. Alezia Manns and McCowen each had two assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 10 draw controls with senior Lexi Richardson leading the team with seven. Of the 21 caused turnovers, Fianna Steves caused six. Both Helen Posey and Ella McCowen each caused three turnovers. Steves went on to lead the team with seven ground balls. McCowen picked up six ground balls and Aleiza Manns had five. Caroline Lark played all sixty minutes in the cage and recorded six saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Chowan 12, Southern Wesleyan 3
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-8 / CC 1-3) Chowan (0-3 / CC 0-1)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan went on the attack early in the match as Aleiza Manns and Mack Moreau each took shots on the cage, but the Hawks defense led by goalkeeper Kezia Ramos were able to thwart the attacks. The Warriors would not relent as Ella McCowen passed the ball in to Rinna Beth Brooker who drilled the ball into the back of the cage to give the Warriors the lead. A foul in the eight meter allowed Hayley Billings to go to the arc for a free position shot with just under ten minutes left in the first quarter. Billings got the ball past Ramos for the Warriors second goal of the afternoon. Chowan countered as Blake Tutman tried to get the ball into the cage, but Caroline Lark prevent the Hawks from cutting into Southern Wesleyan's lead. Seconds later, Ella McCowen flipped the ball over to Brooker who netted her second goal of the day. After a green card was issued on Lexi Richardson, the Hawks scored their first goal of the game out of the stick of Victoria Brown.
The Warriors continued to attack the cage in the second quarter as Rinna Beth Brooker and Aleiza Manns each took shots on the cage. However, Kezia Ramos continued to defend the net from the attacks by the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Ella McCowen scored off a free position attempt to extend the Warriors lead to 4-1. Once again the Warriors were fouled in the eight meter. This time Mack Moreau went to the arc and ripped the ball into the cage for her first goal of the afternoon. Aleiza Manns sent the ball over to Moreau who got the ball past Ramos and into the cage to give the Warriors a 6-1 goal lead at halftime.
Hayley Billings kicked off the third quarter for the Warriors as she wove past the defense to score her second goal of the afternoon. The Warriors were not done as Aleiza Manns passed the ball out to Rinna Beth Brooker who scored yet again to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to seven. Chowan countered as Blake Tutman was able to get past the defense to score the Hawks second goal of the afternoon. The Hawks scored once more, but the Warriors continued to push ahead as Mack Moreau and Brooker each scored off free position shots.
The Warriors maintained the intensity as Maree Hernandez and Fianna Steves each attacked the net, but once again the Hawks were able to prevent the Warriors from extending on their lead. Ava Lombardi put up her first collegiate shot but Ramos saved the ball from finding the back of the cage. Lombardi took another shot on the cage, but Ramos saved the ball once again. However, Ella McCowen picked up the ball off the save and flipped it into the back of the cage to extend the Warriors lead to 11-3. With just under four minutes left in the quarter, a foul in the eight meter sent Aleiza Manns to the arc. Manns put the ball into the back of the cage to give Southern Wesleyan a nine goal lead. The Warriors were looking for more as Hannon Graybeal took a shot on the cage, but the Hawks prevented the attacks. Southern Wesleyan won the game in a 12-3 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Young Harris, GA to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions. The Warriors will then return to Central, SC to host the Shorter Hawks on April 1 at 6pm. They will remain at home on April 8 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers. Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on April 18 as they travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
