BELMONT, N.C. (Oct. 30) – Despite scoring the first goal of the game, the University of Mount Olive field hockey team surrendered two second-half goals, including one in the final seconds, to drop a 2-1 decision at Belmont Abbey on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the Trojans suffer a fourth-straight loss to fall to 8-7 this season with a 7-6 record in conference action. Mount Olive currently holds the fifth seed in the league standings with the final contest of the regular season set for this weekend. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey improves to 3-12 overall behind a 7-6 mark in league play.
The Trojans controlled the pace in the opening quarter totaling a 5-0 edge in shots with a pair of corners. UMO registered a pair of shots on goal, but the Crusader goalkeeper picked up two stops. Both sides threatened in their offensive ends in the initial minutes of the second quarter before Mount Olive established a 1-0 advantage. At the 23:00 mark, senior
Annefleur Moerkerken scored her team-leading seventh goal off an assist from fellow senior
Amber Dercksen.
Belmont Abbey quickly tied the contest in the third quarter, as Jillian Cain found the back of the cage at the 34:09 mark with an assist awarded to Taryn Sabia. The Crusaders produced a strong finish to the third with a trio of shots and two penalty corners. In the fourth quarter, UMO established early attacking chances, but Belmont Abbey had the pace late to find the game-winner. After five shots in the final seven-plus minutes, Casey Etter scored with just 10 seconds left in regulation to seal the 2-1 win.
Freshman goalkeeper
Lola Muñoz de Verger finished with five saves on 11 shots faced in the loss.
Mount Olive out-shot Belmont Abbey by a 14-11 margin while boasting a 7-4 edge in penalty corners.
The Trojans will close the regular season on the road on Saturday, Nov. 2, to face Lander, starting at noon.
