Box Score Jeremy Zalacca - Director of Athletic Communications
BELMONT, N.C. - The Pfeiffer women's lacrosse team (3-8, 3-2 CC) couldn't overcome a 5-0 deficit and dropped a 10-5 decision at Belmont Abbey (7-4, 3-1) on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field. Gracie Herbert scored two of the five goals for the Falcons but Pfeiffer fell to 0-3 on the road this season.
The Crusaders were paced by three goals from Rebecca Luca and two each by Rebecca Stromberg and Jordan Hofmeister. The win catapults Belmont Abbey past Pfeiffer for third place in the Conference Carolinas standings and was the Crusaders fourth win in their past five contests.
Pfeiffer struggled to get anything going on the offensive end and didn't score their first goal until 19:45 remained in the second half. Whitney Jaffe took a feed from Kylie Lode to make the score 5-1. After a Hofmeister goal, Cheyenne Green responded with her 24th strike of the season to keep Pfeiffer within four. However, the teams would exchange goals over the next 13 minutes as Pfeiffer wasn't able to pull any closer than four goals.
Cassidy Wilson made 12 saves on the day but suffered the loss in goal.
Belmont Abbey was credited with 19 ground balls to just nine for the Falcons. Pfeiffer turned the ball over 25 times on the afternoon and was outshot 24-15. The Falcons took just one shot in the opening half as the Crusaders were able to slow the tempo and control the ball for the majority of the half.
Molly O'Friel led Pfeiffer with three draw controls and Green paced Pfeiffer with four ground balls and caused four turnovers.
In the last meeting between these two teams, Pfeiffer took a 12-10 win on the Falcons Senior Day last March 28. Pfeiffer erased a 6-4 halftime lead and scored eight times in the final 30 minutes to come away with the victory.
Pfeiffer returns to action next Monday as they host Queens at 7 p.m. in the penultimate home contest of the season.
