Mount Olive field hockey wins at Belmont Abbey

BELMONT, N.C.  – Behind a game-winning goal byNikki Bos in the third quarter, the Trojans claimed a 2-1 victory over Belmont Abbey in South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Trojans improved to 4-3 this season with a 4-0 mark in conference play. Mount Olive has now registered four straight wins and claimed its second victory over the Crusaders this year. Belmont Abbey fell to 3-5 overall behind a 2-2 record in league play.

Belmont Abbey scored within the opening minutes of the first quarter after junior Abigail Kane put the Crusaders ahead 1-0. The Trojans quickly responded when junior Avery Congleton was able to draw a penalty corner for her team. At the 5:08 mark, a pass by sophomore Morgan Paterson connected with freshman Jule Schuurman, who scored her second goal of the season and leveled the game, 1-1. Both teams worked hard to try and achieve another goal but both teams remained scoreless for the second quarter.

Mount Olive took the lead as it opened the third quarter with a goal by Bos, her team-leading fifth of the season, off a pass by Congleton to put the Trojans ahead 2-1. The Trojan defense pressed hard against the Crusader offense as they only allowed one shot on goal in the second half of the game. With three penalty corner opportunities for Belmont Abbey in the fourth quarter, the Crusaders were unable to convert.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alanna Barrett collected four saves after facing seven attempts in 60 minutes of play.

Both teams tallied seven shots, including five on goal, while the Crusaders held an 11-5 edge in penalty corners.