BELMONT ABBEY, N.C. — A five-goal fourth quarter led by Katie Allen pushed the UVA Wise women's lacrosse team over the Belmont Abbey Crusaders this afternoon.*

Belmont Abbey (0-3) made the first statement of the day with two back-to-back goals from Olivia Carlino after three minutes of play. UVA Wise (2-0) responded quickly with a goal each from Caitlyn Schultz and Mallory Trimble to even things out with 10 minutes to go in the first quarter. Carlino would score yet another goal for the Crusaders and teammate Haley Adamo would add to the lead before Abby Stoffelen would get her Cavs within a goal at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter displayed a back-and-forth battle between the two squads — with Anna Claire Watt, Trimble, and Schultz making some noise at the goal to tie the score at six goals each. A late goal with 47 seconds to go from Belmont Abbey's Emma Pherson gave her team the 7-6 lead going into halftime.

Third quarter play was close throughout. UVA Wise managed to tie things up on three separate occasions and finally grabbed a 10-9 lead at the 3:52 ticker from a shot from Trimble. The lead was quickly snagged once again by the Crusaders though, as Riley D'Andrea and Pherson put up two consecutive goals in the last three minutes of the third.

In the fourth quarter, UVA Wise offense took over down the final stretch. In the first 40 seconds, Allen fired in a shot to even the score at 11. After a pair of shot attempts from Belmont Abbey and a save from Olivia Toomer in goal, Kaila Lacey made a game-changing goal to take a 12-11 UVA Wise lead. Although attacker Carlino made some moves and swiped in two goals in the final six minutes, UVA Wise's five goals in the quarter held through to the final buzzer.

"A complete win!" Dennehy said of the team's triumph. We never gave up, and the energy was contagious." 
 

UVA Wise connected on 15-of-19 shots on goal on the day. The Crusaders connected on 13-of-22 shots on goal throughout the contest, and Toomer in goal registered a career-high nine saves for the Cavaliers.

Trimble led the contest with four goals while Schultz added three goals of her own. Davis, Allen, and Stoffelen each added two while Lacey and Watt picked up a goal a piece.

Up next, the Cavaliers will bring their talents back home for their home opener against non-conference Lee University on Sunday, February 19 at 3 PM.



*official statistics from Belmont Abbey Athletics pending.