Paced by two second-half goals, the Anderson women's soccer team handed Belmont Abbey its first Conference Carolina loss of the season with a 3-2 victory Wednesday at the AU soccer field. Anderson improves to 2-6-0 overall and 2-3-0 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey falls 5-3-0 overall and 4-1-0 in Conference Carolinas.

Belmont Abbey broke a 1-1 halftime tie with a penalty kick by Amanda Maddock five minutes into the second half, but the Trojans responded with a goal by freshman Jessica Kleinberg.

Kleinberg gave the Trojans the lead for good with 15:27 remaining on her second goal of the game. Katelyn Conover played a long ball, and Kleinberg flipped the ball past the charging Belmont Abbey keeper before finding the net for the game-winning goal.

After several early opportunities, Belmont Abbey converted a shot attempt with 16:17 remaining in the first half. Kristin Foster's corner kick was headed by Nicole Voets, and Trojans' keeper Kelli Whitfield nearly made the stop but the ball trickled through to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

Anderson answered late in the first half when Kleinberg pressured the Crusaders' defender on a ball in the box, forcing an own goal that tied the score at 1-1.

The Crusaders controlled possession in Anderson territory for much of the game, but the Trojans' defense was up to the challenge. The Trojans forced nine Belmont attempts to be off the mark, and Whitfield finished the game with seven saves on 19 Belmont Abbey shots.