Hickory, N.C. ? The Lenoir-Rhyne Women?s Soccer Team slipped past Belmont Abbey, 2-1, Tuesday night at the Moretz Sports ? Athletic Complex as a late goal from freshman midfielder Elizabeth Hawes (Valdese, N.C.) sealed the victory.
Sporting a No. 7 NSCAA Southeast NCAA Division II Regional ranking heading into the contest, L-R improved to 4-1 on the year and further justified its regional standing.? Belmont Abbey fell to 1-1 on the year.
Stingy Crusader marking did not allow L-R to develop any offensive rhythm early in the contest.? But at the 30:06 mark, sophomore forward Laura Linehan (San Diego, Calif.) broke the silence with her team-tying fifth goal of the season.? Linehan pounced on missed clear by the Crusader defense just outside the left corner of the box and drove a knuckle ball into the upper near corner.
The Bears kept that momentum well into the second half until Belmont Abbey forward Erika Trivisonno (Homer, N.Y.) gave chase to a long ball and was fouled in the Bears? box.? Belmont Abbey defender Amanda Maddock (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished the penalty kick at 70:36 to tie the game.
After employing a possession and width strategy throughout the first 80 minutes of the contest, L-R head coach Adrian Blewitt called for more direct play with just 10 minutes remaining.
At the 82:46 mark, it paid off.? Sophomore midfielder Mariel Mena (Gainesville, Fla.) gathered the ball on the right wing and played a long diagonal into Hawes? feet.? Hawes beat the Crusaders? Maddock with three touches and banged home the game-winner from just seven yards out.? Mena was credited with the assist.
L-R had plenty of chances as it combined for 13 shots and put eight of them on frame.? Belmont Abbey was only able to put two shots on goal.
Freshman Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.) played all 90 minutes in goal for Lenoir-Rhyne, picking up one save en route to her first victory of the season.? Kelsey Lovell (Ada, Mich.) made six saves in the loss for Belmont Abbey.?
Lenoir-Rhyne will head to Bristol, Tenn., this Saturday to face King College.? Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m.
