Central, SC – The Warriors took down the Truett McConnel Bears on Thursday evening in a 16-4 final score.
Southern Wesleyan had 37 shots with 28 being on target in the victory over the Bears. Caelyn Little led the Warriors as six of her seven shots on goal found the back of the net. Ella McCowen had four goals on the game while both Taylor Townsend and Fianna Steves each had three goals. Alexa Simpson led the Warriors with three assists. McCowen, Little and Emily Gregg each had two assists.
The Warriors won 14 draws. Fianna Steves won seven draws while Ella McCowen was close behind her with five draws won. Charlotte Barnette picked up eight ground balls. Barnette was followed by Caelyn Little, Fianna Steves and Ella McCowen who each won five ground balls. Steves went on to cause eight turnovers.
Ava Lombardi started the game in the cage. Lombardi totaled five saves in the forty-five minutes she played. Amanda Erikson played the final fifteen minutes in the cage.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 16, Truett McConnell 4
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-7) Truett McConnell (2-4)
How It Happened
The Warriors went on the attack early as Alexa Simpson passed the ball out to Ella McCowen. McCowen got the ball into the back of the cage to give Southern Wesleyan the early advantage. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Caelyn Little wove around the Bears and got the ball into the cage just seconds later. Truett McConnell looked to cut into Southern Wesleyan's lead as Andie Whipple took a shot on the cage, but Ava Lombardi saved the attack from meeting the net. Fianna Steves got around the defense to collect a pass from Simpson and drilled it into the cage for her first goal of the season. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Taylor Townsend sent the ball into the back of the cage for the Warriors fourth goal of the game. The Warriors would not relent their attacks as Ella McCowen, Fianna Steves and Taylor Townsend each scored within the span of a minute to give the Warriors an 8-0 goal advantage.
Caelyn Little kicked off the scoring in the second quarter for the Warriors as she got the ball into the back of the cage just over a minute into the quarter. Charlotte Barnette picked up a ground ball and got the ball down the field. Little got the ball and sent it into the back of the cage. Fianna Steves won the next draw of the game and got the ball down the field to Emily Gregg. Gregg passed the ball in to Ella McCowen who quickly drilled the ball into the cage to extend the Warriors lead to 11-0. With just over ten minutes on the clock, Steves got the ball into the cage once again. Southern Wesleyan continued to attack the cage as Caelyn Little and Taylor Townsend each attacked the cage, but Sally Marcum knocked the ball away. The Warriors led the Bears 12-0 at halftime.
The Warriors continued where they left off in the third quarter as Caelyn Little collected a pass from Emily Gregg and drilled it into the cage. Ella McCowen and Maree Hernandez each put up shots, but the ball hit off the post each time. The Bears got on the board with just over four minutes left in the third quarter as Marlo McBrayer got the ball into the back of the cage. However, the Warriors answered shortly afterwards as Taylor Townsend collected a pass and scored. McBrayer scored once again, but the Bears still trailed behind the Warriors at the end of the third quarter.
A foul by the Warriors sent Aisley Whipple to the eight meter. Whipple scored a free position shot to put the Bears within eleven. Natalie Thompson scored off a pass from Marlo McBrayer. The Warriors continued to attack the cage as Ella McCowen took a free position shot after a foul by the Bears, but once again Sally Marcum was there to save the attack on the cage. McCowen cleared the ball down the field and drilled it into the cage to allow the Warriors to regain their eleven goal lead over Truett McConnell. In the final two minutes of the game, Caelyn Little got the ball into the back of the cage to allow the Warriors to win the game in a 16-4 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs on March 21. They will then return to Central, SC on March 25 as they host the Emmanuel Lions at 5pm. The Warriors will host the Ferrum Panthers on March 28 at noon at the Joe R Gilbert Track & Field complex.
