Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the CSU-Pueblo Thunder Wolves on Saturday morning in a 15-2 final score.
The Warriors took 17 shots in the game with 11 being on target. Taylor Townsend led the team with three shots on goal. Both Townsend and Caelyn Little each had a goal and assist in the game.
Southern Wesleyan won nine draw controls with Fianna Steves, Trinity Bowman and Ella McCowen each having three draws. The Warriors picked up 37 ground balls in the loss to the Thunder Wolves. Of the 13 caused turnovers, Steves caused three of them. Sofia Hernandez and Ella McCowen each caused two turnovers.
Ava Lombardi and Amanda Erikson shared time in the cage. Lombardi started the game and had five saves in the thirty-eight minutes that she played. Erikson played in twenty-one minutes of the game and had nine saves.
Game Vitals
Final: CSU-Pueblo 15, Southern Wesleyan 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-3) CSU-Pueblo (2-0)
How It Happened
The Thunder Wolves were first on the board as just seconds into the game, Reese Wasmund got the ball over to Hillary Grehan. Grehan scored to give CSU Pueblo the first goal of the game. They would not relent as Ainsley Jackson got in a couple of goals to give them a 3-0 goal lead. Fianna Steves won the next draw and took the ball down the field and put up a shot, but Hanna Duffee was there to save the ball from finding the back of the cage. Caelyn Little looked to find the cage to cut into the Thunder Wolves lead, but her shot went just wide. Ava Lombardi thwarted another attack on the cage by Emily Doane.
CSU Pueblo would not relent as Sydney Gunnels and Chloe Mora each got up goals. The Warriors put up a fight as Caelyn Little, Ella McCowen and Trinity Bowman each put up shots. However, Hannah Duffee was there to save each of the attacks on the cage. Southern Wesleyan's attacks on the cage paid off as Taylor Townsend passed the ball over to Little. Little sent the ball into the cage to put the Warriors behind the Thunder Wolves 7-1. The Thunder Wolves were able to get the ball into the cage a couple more times to lead 9-1 at halftime.
The Warriors went on the attack early in the third quarter as Ella McCowen took a shot on the cage. McCowen's shot was stopped by CSU Pueblo's goalkeeper to keep the Warriors from cutting further into their lead. Sydney Gunnels scored once again for the Thunder Wolves. Emily Doane looked to find the cage, but Amanda Erikson knocked the ball away. Hillary Grehan scored the twelfth goal of the game for the Thunder Wolves.
Alexa Simpson went on the attack as she looked to find the cage, but her shot was saved by Hannah Duffee. The Warriors persisted on their attacks as Simpson, Taylor Townsend and Ella McCowen each put up shots. However, none of their attacks were able to find the cage. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Caelyn Little got the ball over to Townsend. Townsend flipped the ball into the cage to score the Warriors second goal of the game. CSU Pueblo persevered as they claimed the non-conference game in a 15-2 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on March 25 as they host the Mars Hill Lions at 5pm. They will then travel to Cleveland, TN on February 27 to take on the Lee Flames at 5pm. The Warriors will host Truett-McConnell on March 5.
