Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Emmanuel Lions on Wednesday evening in a 21-5 final score.
The Warriors took 14 shots with 12 being on target in the loss to the Lions. Caelyn Little led the team with five shots on goal while Ella McCowen was right behind her with four. Little went on to lead the team in scoring as she had three goals and one assist in the game. McCowen had the other two goals.
Of the eight draw controls Southern Wesleyan won, Ella McCowen had four and Fianna Steves had three. McCowen went on to caused three turnovers and pick up three ground balls. Ava Lombardi led the team with six ground balls in the game.
Ava Lombardi played all sixty minutes in the cage. While there, the sophomore recorded 12 saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Emmanuel 21, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-9 / CC 1-4) Emmaneul (6-5 / CC 3-1)
How It Happened
The Lions came out quickly in the game as Demi Czynski took an early shot on the cage, but Ava Lombardi was there to prevent the ball from finding the net. Czynski went on the attack again as she collected a pass out of the stick of Olivia Wallach and scored to give Emmanuel the lead. However, the Warriors tied the game up shortly afterwards as Ella McCowen wove around the defense to score. The Lions pressed on as they scored several times in the span of a couple of minutes to take a 5-1 goal lead. Southern Wesleyan looked to cut into their lead as a foul by the Lions sent Hayley Billings to the eight meter. However, Emily Dawson thwarted Billings attack on the cage.
Emmanuel carried on their attacks in the second half as Katilyn Brown put up a shot, but Ava Lombardi continued to defend the net from their attacks. With just under eight minutes on the clock, a foul by the Lions allowed Caelyn Little to make her way to the eight meter. Little drilled the ball into the cage for her first goal of the game. The Warriors continued to look to cut into the Lions lead as Fianna Steves and Ella McCowen each put up shots, but Emmanuel's defense was not deterred as they thwarted each attack on the cage. Lexie Lee cleared the ball down the field and scored to put the Lions ahead 11-2. The Warriors were not done as Caelyn Little scored twice more within the span of two minutes.
However, the Lions upped the intensity early in the third quarter as Demi Czynski and Taylor Schubert each got the ball into the back of the cage. The Lions attacked the Warriors offense several more times. Ava Lombardi knocked away another attack on the cage by Schubert. Emmanuel pressed on as they scored several more times to extend their lead to 20-4.
Emmanuel peppered the cage with shots early in the final quarter of the game. However, Ava Lombardi and the Warriors' defense kept knocking the attacks away. Taylor Townsend looked for her first goal of the game as she put up a shot, but once more Emily Dawson was there to keep Southern Wesleyan from cutting into their lead. Caelyn Little got the ball over to Ella McCowen who quickly flipped it into the cage for the Warriors fifth goal of the game. McCowen took more shots, but it was not enough as the Warriors fell to the Lions in a 21-5 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will welcome the Ferrum Panthers to Central, SC on March 28 in a noon game to be played at the Joe R Gilbert Track & Field Complex. They will then travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on March 31. On April 7, the Warriors will travel to Emory, VA to take on the Emory & Henry Wasps in non-conference action.
