SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse College lacrosse team opened the home portion of its 2020 schedule with a 24-3 loss at the hands of Belmont Abbey on Wednesday evening. Abbey scored 15 unanswered in the opening half to control the entirety of the contest. 

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Belmont Abbey 24, Converse 3

Records: Belmont Abbey (2-2, 1-0 CC) Converse (0-3, 0-2 CC)

Location: Hayden Abney Field, Spartanburg, S.C. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• A trio of players posted one goal each for the Valkyries.
• Kelsie Glass and Cassidy O'Neill paced the Purple and Gold with two shots each.
• Glass and Kat Goldfuss were both able to collect a pair of caused turnovers.
• Madalynn Brunner led the Vals with five groundballs to go along with 10 saves in goal.
• Belmont Abbey held a huge 41-5 advantage on shots and draw controls, 22-7.
• Marin Felsoci led all players with five goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half

The Crusaders picked up a quick goal just over a minute into the contest, beginning a plethora of scoring for the visiting team. The Valkyries defense played hard, but could not keep Abbey off the attack during the first 30 minutes of action. In all, BAC posted 15 straight goals in the first half, taking a comfortable margin into the intermission. 

Converse looked poised to score in the 21^st minute of action, but O'Neill's one-timer was scooped up by the Crusader keeper, denying the Valkyries of its only scoring chance in the opening period. 

Second Half

Riley D'Andrea scored 19 seconds into the second half, extending the Crusader lead. However, Converse was finally able to answer back two minutes later. A draw control win by the Valkyries put the Purple and Gold on the offensive. Goldfuss was able to find a cutting O'Neill, who blasted a shot into the back of the net, putting the Vals on the board. 

However, Belmont Abbey was able to reel off four in a row to push the advantage out to 20-1 before Haleigh McSwain posted the first goal of her collegiate career at the 17:42 mark of the half. After Abbey tacked on two more goals, Glass took a free position shot and calmly laced it between the goalie's legs for the third goal of the game for Converse. 

That was the last time the Valkyries found the back of the net, while BAC added two late goals, making the final score 24-3 in favor of the Crusaders. 

UP NEXT

Converse will return to the friendly confines of Hayden Abney Fulp Field on Saturday, February 22, playing host to Chowan at 11 a.m. in a Conference Carolinas contest.