Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the UVA Wise Cavaliers on Monday afternoon in a 18-5 final score.
The Warriors had nine shots in the loss to the Cavaliers with all nine being on target. Both Caelyn Little and Taylor Townsend had three shots on the cage. Little led the team with three goals. The other goals came out of the sticks of Townsend and Ella McCowen. Townsend went on to have two of the three assists. The other assist came from Little.
Southern Wesleyan won 10 draws during the match. Senior Fianna Steves had seven draws to her name. Steves went on to pick up seven ground balls and caused five turnovers. Ella McCowen also caused five turnovers in the game. McCowen led the team with eight groundballs. Emma Clardy picked up seven ground balls and caused three turnovers. Amanda Erikson played all sixty minutes in the cage and had 12 saves.
Game Vitals
Final: UVA Wise 18, Southern Wesleyan 5
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-6) UVA Wise (7-1)
How It Happened
The Cavaliers went on the offensive quickly as Noley Hiller and Samantha Sobolewski each scored within the first two minutes of the game. They looked to extend on their lead, but Amanda Erikson knocked the ball away off a shot by Abby Schrafft. The Warriors fought back as with just over four minutes on the clock, Caelyn Little cleared the ball down the field and got it quickly to Taylor Townsend. Townsend flipped the ball into the cage to put the Warriors on the board.
UVA Wise continued their attacks early in the second quarter as Macey Hatfield got the ball around the Warriors defensive to allow the Cavaliers to regain their four goal lead. However, a foul in the eight meter allowed Caelyn Little to take a free position shot. Little put the ball in the back of the cage to put the Warriors behind the Cavaliers 5-2. UVA Wise pressed on as they scored twice more to force Southern Wesleyan to take a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Fianna Steves won the draw and the Warriors transitioned to the attack. Taylor Townsend got the ball over to Little who sent another rocket into the cage. Little scored once again with just under seven minutes on the clock to put the Warriors back within three. Another foul in the eight meter sent Ella McCowen to the arc. McCowen got the ball around the Cavaliers goalkeeper for her lone goal of the game. However, the Cavaliers were able to score twice more to lead 10-5 at halftime.
Fianna Steves looked to find the back of the cage early in the third quarter, but Katie Michaels knocked her attack away. UVA Wise went on the offensive once again as Leslie Clay and Issie Brown each scored. The Warriors looked to answer as Ella McCowen took another shot on the cage, but once again Michaels was there. The Cavaliers persisted as Abby Schrafft scored in the final seconds of the quarter to force the clock to run.
Southern Wesleyan challenged the UVA Wise offense as they forced several turnovers in an attempt to cut into the Cavaliers' lead. However, the Cavaliers pressed on with their attacks. Evelynn Ihlefeld took a shot on the cage off a free position, but Amanda Erikson saved the attack once again. UVA Wise persisted as they scored several more times to win the game in an 18-5 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will resume Conference Carolinas action on March 14 as they welcome the Lees-McRae Bobcats to Childs Field at 1pm. They will then travel to Rome, GA on March 17 to take on the Shorter Hawks. The Warriors will take on the Truett McConnell Bears on March 19.
