Ellie Barnes scored the tying goal late in the first half, but a goal early in the second half proved to be the game winner as Mount Olive fell to conference leader Belmont Abbey 2-1 in Conference Carolinas women's soccer Tuesday at Amon Field. All of the Trojans' losses this season in conference play have been by one goal.

Mount Olive (2-8-1 overall, 0-5-0 Conference Carolinas) trailed 1-0 until Lauren Power's corner kick led a wild flurry directly in front of the Belmont Abbey goal. The Trojans were initially unable to get off a clean shot, but the Crusaders could clear the ball out. The ball eventually went to Barnes, who put home a 10-yard shot inside the left post to tie the match 1-1 at the 29:54 mark.

The match remained tied going into halftime, but Belmont Abbey (8-2-1, 4-0-1) went ahead to stay less than seven minutes into the second half. Ananda Gebreyesus, who scored the Crusaders first goal in the 12th minute, dribbled from midfield down the left side. She sent a cross just in front of the Trojan goal and Meghan Philp made a run past the Trojan defense and scored the deciding goal.

Mount Olive had a challenge in the final seconds when Barnes crossed from the right corner into the Belmont Abbey box, but Crusader goalkeeper Hannah Kohls was able to grab the ball just a step before the Trojan runners.

Trojan goalkeeper Stephanie McCoy recorded six saves, while Kohls finished with three saves. Winds gusting up to 16 miles per hour played havoc on punts and goal kicks by Kohls in the first half and McCoy in the second half.

Mount Olive was outshot by a 13-7 margin. Ironically, in Belmont Abbey's previous match, the Crusaders outshot King 41-9, but had to settle for a 1-1 tie.

Mount Olive plays the first of four consecutive away matches as the Trojans travel to Gaffney, S.C., Saturday to take on Limestone in a Conference Carolinas contest. Match time is 1 p.m.