Box Score Jeremy Zalacca - Director of Athletic Communications
GAFFNEY, SC - A Pfeiffer comeback bid fell short as the Falcons (10-8-1) saw their 2016 season come to a close with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of No. 2 seed Belmont Abbey (16-2-1) on Friday night in the Conference Tournament Semifinal. Aryana Harvey scored the lone goal for the Falcons with 20 minutes to go, cutting the deficit to one goal but the Falcons could get no closer.
Morgan Patton got the scoring started for the Crusaders, finding the back of the net in the 61st minute as she beat two defenders and finished low for her sixth goal of the year. The lead would increase to 2-0 in the 70th minute when Katelyn Richard dribbled into the top of the box and sent her shot by freshman keeper Kaley Hyatt.
Harvey would stop the Crusader momentum as her free kick from 35 yards out went through the keeper's hands and across the goal line to cut into the lead. Despite a valiant effort in the final moments, the Falcons weren't able to find the equalizer and fell in the semifinal round for the second straight season.
For the match, Belmont Abbey held a 16-7 advantage in shots and a 12-4 lead in corner kicks. Hyatt wrapped up a brilliant rookie season with four saves, including a big diving stop in the final minutes to keep Pfeiffer in the match.
With the loss, the careers of 18 women's soccer players comes to an end. The loss also marks the end of the Division II era of Pfeiffer women's soccer as the program will transition to NCAA Division III to start the 2017 campaign.
