Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Tuesday afternoon in a 26-2 final score.
All five of the Warriors' shots on goal in the loss to the Crusaders. Taylor Townsend and Hayley Billings picked up the lone goals of the game for the Warriors. Caelyn Little had an assist in the game.
Southern Wesleyan picked up nine ground balls with both Ella McCowen and Fianna Steves each having two to their name. Steves went on to lead the team with three draws. The Warriors caused six turnovers. Amanda Erikson played all sixty minutes in the cage and had seven saves.
Game Vitals
Final: Belmont Abbey 26, Southern Wesleyan 2
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-10 / CC 2-5) Belmont Abbey (9-4 / CC 5-1)
How It Happened
Belmont Abbey came out of the game early in the game as Trinity Cassidy scored just over a minute into the cage. The Crusaders looked to extend their lead as Abbey McCarthy and Addyson Greenspan each put up shots, but Amanda Erikson was able to thwart their attacks. The Warriors answered though as Hayley Billings got around the defense and sent the ball into the back of the cage. Ella McCowen won the next draw control and got the ball down to Taylor Townsend. However, Summer Eddinger knocked Townsend's shot on the goal away. The Crusaders took the lead on back-to-back goals by Katelyn Miller and Emerson Sheyda.
The Crusaders would not relent as Addyson Greenspan scored a couple goals early in the second quarter to extend Belmont Abbey's lead to 7-1. Belmont Abbey pushed on as Macy Lashells sent the ball into the cage a couple more times. Despite a late shot on the cage by Caelyn Little, the Warriors trailed the Crusaders 15-1 at halftime.
Belmont Abbey picked up from where they left off in the third quarter as Macy Lashells and Amanda Borg each put up shots. However, Amanda Erikson and the Warriors defense were there to prevent their attacks from finding the back of the cage. Fianna Steves forced the Crusaders to turn the ball over a couple of times, but the Crusaders won the ball back and got it over to Olivia Ritchie for her to score.
Amanda Borg scored the Crusaders twenty-second goal of the game off a pass from Abbey McCarthy. The Warriors answered with just under eight minutes on the clock. Caelyn Little got the ball over to Taylor Townsend. Townsend sent the ball into the back of the cage. However, the Warriors fell to the Crusaders in a 26-2 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Emory, VA on April 7 as they take on the Emory & Henry Wasps. They will return to Central, SC on April 11 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers at noon. The Warriors will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on April 15.
