WILSON, N.C. (Apr. 28) – In the semifinal game of the Conference Carolinas Championships, the University of Mount Olive women's lacrosse team defeated rival Barton 16-7 to advance to the championship final on Sunday.

With the win, UMO improves to 13-5 this season and will look to complete the three-peat as they attempt to defend the conference title. Meanwhile, Barton ends its season with a 10-8 overall record.

Barton was first to score at the 14:20 mark of the game, 1-0. Soon after, senior Bria Hamilton scored her first goal of the game, 1-1. With an extra man opportunity, the Bulldogs scored to regain the advantage, 2-1. With back-to-back goals by senior Ellie Fedorowski and graduate student Meagan Maxwell, UMO took the lead at the end of the first quarter, 3-2. At the start of the second quarter, BC was the first to net a goal, 3-3. With a free position opportunity by sophomore Teagan Dunnett, she ripped a shot from the top of the eight to put the Trojans up 4-3. With another goal by Hamilton, Mount Olive extended the lead by two, 5-3. At the 11:13 mark, the Bulldogs were able to score, bringing the match within one, 5-4. Scoring her first of the game, graduate student Ali Davis put one in the back of the cage, 6-4. Following her teammate, Hamilton scored her fourth goal of the game, 7-4. Closing in at the end of the first half, Barton scored two goals and graduate student Morgan Paige put one on the board, 8-6.

At the start of the second half, Mount Olive completely took control of the game. BC scored its last goal of the game at the 12:46 mark in the third quarter, 8-7. With eight-straight goals from UMO, the Trojans were able to seal the win. With two goals by Davis and sophomore Rileigh White, and goals from Hamilton, Maxwell, senior Emery Kennedy, and sophomore Lena DeFilippo, Mount Olive punched their ticket to Championship Sunday with a 16-7 win.

Hamilton finished the game with four goals, one assist, one ground ball, and six draw controls. Teammate Maxwell totaled four points on two goals and two assists.

Senior goalkeeper Claire Hagen collected five saves in just under 52 minutes in the cage, while graduate student Alexis Stanley tallied a game-high six ground balls.

Mount Olive continues its postseason run in the championship game on Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. against Belmont Abbey in Wilson, North Carolina.