Riann Daziel scored the go-ahead goal with 1:46 left to play and University of Mount Olive's defense limited Belmont Abbey College to a single goal in the second half as the nationally 15th-ranked Trojans rallied from a two-goal deficit for an 8-6 victory over the Crusaders in Conference Carolinas women's lacrosse Wednesday at Amon Field. The win kept the Trojans unbeaten at home this season and unbeaten in conference play.
Mount Olive (11-2 overall, 5-0 Conference Carolinas) trailed 6-4 midway through the second half after going scoreless for nearly 30 minutes of game time. Saffron Snethen, who scored the Trojans' last goal midway through the first half, ended the drought after she fought through a triple team to score with 17:31 left in the contest. Candace Corkin followed with a free position shot less than 90 seconds later to tie the game 6-6.
The score remained tied until Alysha Kulka brought the ball from behind the goal to the left side and Daziel broke free in front of the goal to put Mount Olive on top. After Daziel won the ensuing draw control, Katie McGovern ran off nearly 30 seconds, then found an open lane for an uncontested shot and the Trojans' only two-goal lead in the entire game. McGovern won the next draw control and Mount Olive was able to run out the clock.
In the first half, Mount Olive used its passing game for back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead with 20:36 left. Claire Wigler found Kali Cook-Grisewood cutting through the middle for a goal and on an almost identical play, Snethen scored on a pass by Daziel. Snethen scored again with 16:28 left before halftime, but that would be the Trojans' last goal of the half.
Belmont Abbey tied the game with 15:08 left on a goal by Mackenzie Miller. Katy Connery added her second goal with exactly five minutes left to give the Crusaders a 5-4 halftime lead. Belmont Abbey took a two-goal lead on Katelin Glass's goal with 19:07 left in the contest. The Trojans held the Crusaders scoreless the rest of the way.
Mount Olive had outscored its previous three opponents 50-16. Defender Kayla Mergl said Wednesday's contest was good for the Trojans.
"We needed a game like this," said Mergl, a junior from Sayville, N.Y. "The last three games, our offense possessed the ball most of the time. Today, our defense was pressured much of the game. Belmont Abbey is a good offensive team, so holding them to one goal in the second half was big."
Despite significant possession time by Belmont Abbey, the Trojans limited the Crusaders to 10 shots, eight on goal. Trojan goalkeeper Hannah Knight finished with two saves, while Reilly Johnson had 11 saves for Belmont Abbey on 26 Mount Olive shots.
Mount Olive returns to action Friday as the Trojans play host to Colorado Mesa in a non-conference match-up. Game time is 7 p.m. at Amon Field. Seniors Allana Bauche, Alex Crawford, Sarah Fischer and Katie McGovern will be recognized prior to the game.