MOUNT OLIVE (April 27) – Following a fourth-quarter surge on Sunday evening, the University of Mount Olive women's lacrosse program secured a fifth-straight Conference Carolinas Championship with an 18-14 victory over Belmont Abbey at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex.
Final Score: Mount Olive 18, Belmont Abbey 14
Records: Mount Olive (11-7), Belmont Abbey (9-9)
Location: Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex
All-Tournament Team: Katie Broom (MVP),
Lena DeFilippo,
Rileigh White,
Giavahna Gasdia
Next Up: The Trojans earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the league tournament title, marking the second appearance on the national stage in program history. The NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Selection Show will air on Sunday, May 4, at 8:30 p.m. on NCAA.com
TROJAN PERFORMANCES:
- Redshirt sophomore Katie Broom delivered a game-high six-point performance with five goals and one assist while adding three ground balls. She earned Tournament MVP honors after contributing 13 points behind nine goals and four assists in the postseason.
- Senior Lena DeFilippo finished with four goals and one assist versus the Crusaders.
- Sophomore Caroline Clark produced a fantastic performance in the championship after totaling three goals, one assist, three draw controls, two caused turnovers, and one ground ball.
- Fellow sophomore Kayanna Bowden posted a four-point performance with three goals and one assist while tallying two draw controls and one ground ball.
- Sophomore Simone McCraw led the Trojan defense with three caused turnovers.
- Senior Anna James earned the win after collecting four saves on 19 shots faced in 45-plus minutes of play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the opening quarter, Belmont Abbey jumped in front by a 4-1 margin in the initial nine minutes of the game while Clark scored a solo-effect for the first goal by Mount Olive.
- The Trojans tied the contest at 4-4 in the final three-plus minutes of the first quarter, as DeFilippo, Bowden, and Broom rattled the back of the cage.
- The Crusaders scored the initial goal of the second quarter, but UMO countered with three-unanswered goals to build a 7-5 advantage.
- At the break, the game was knotted at 7-7 as Belmont Abbey scored back-to-back goals in the final minutes of the second quarter.
- The two sides exchanged goals in the third quarter, as Broom scored twice while Bowden and DeFilippo added a goal to head into the fourth tied at 11-11.
- In the final quarter, Mount Olive surged ahead with three-straight goals in the opening two minutes, including a man-down goal from Clark, 14-11.
- Belmont Abbey responded with a goal at the 11:56 mark, but the Trojans pulled away with four consecutive goals to ultimately capture an 18-14 victory.
