Belmont Abbey forwards Connie Axiotis and Erika Trivisonno scored first half goals in the first 13 minutes, and an stingy Crusader defense limited Anderson to just four shots after allowing a goal as the top-seeded Crusaders claimed its seventh Conference Carolinas title and the third in the last five years with a 2-1 win over the third-seeded Trojans this afternoon at Alumni Field. The Abbey, which earned the automatic berth in the NCAA Southeast Regional, its first since 2001, moves to 14-5, while Anderson, playing its final match as a member of Conference Carolinas (it will join the SAAC next year) ends its season with a record of 12-9.

All three goals came in the first 14 minutes on the first three shots of the contest. Axiotis put Crusaders ahead just 3:09 into the contest, as she ran down a long pass from Alana Ryczek, dribbled twice and lifted a shot past Kelli Whitfield for the goal.

Nine minutes later, Trivisonno upped the lead to 2-0 with a little help from Whitfield. After beating a defender, Trivisonno ripped a shot from 10 yards out that Whtifield caught, but as she was cradling it to her chest, the ball spun out of her grasp backwards and trickled just inside the right goalpost.

Less than one minute later, Anderson cut the lead in half as Ashley Cotton sent a long pass to Jessica Kleinberg, who dribbled down the right side and fired a shot past Kelsey Lovell for the goal.

From there, both defenses took charge through the rest of the first half, but both teams had plenty of scoring chances in the second, the best coming by Nicole Voets, who was standing all alone in front of the goal, but Whitfield smothered it. Voets earlier had a header attempt that just sailed high off of a Kristin Foster corner kick.

The Abbey outshot Anderson 10-5 and took all three corner kicks in the match. Both teams were whistled for 15 fouls each. Whitfield made one save, while Lovell collected four.

Abbey senior forward Celene Molera was named the Tournament MVP, joining Ryczek, Lovell, Amanda Maddock and Rebecca Mateo.

Belmont Abbey will open the NCAA Regional Friday, with an opponent, location and kickoff time to be determined later.

All Tournament Team
Ashley Alderin-Fleagle-Limestone
Brittany Bolton-Lees-McRae
Larissa Federowich-Anderson
Jessica Kleinberg-Anderson
Carrie Settle-Anderson
Amanda Maddock-Belmont Abbey
Alana Ryczek-Belmont Abbey
Kelsey Lovell-Belmont Abbey
Rebecca Mateo-Belmont Abbey

Tournament MVP
Celene Molera-Belmont Abbey