The Belmont Abbey women's soccer team scored the equalizing goal in the 71st minute, but Lenoir-Rhyne pushed across the go-ahead goal with just under eight minutes left as the Lady Bears escaped with a 2-1 win over the visiting Crusaders this evening at Irwin Bell Track. L-R improves to 4-1, while the Abbey falls to 1-1.

Lenoir-Rhyne held the advantage in shots for the match at 13-12, but the Abbey won the advantage in the second half by a 10-6 count. The Bears got on the board at the 30:06 mark when Laura Linehan fired home a shot from the left flank, about 20 yards away, to give L-R the early advantage. The match remained 1-0 for the next 40:30 until an Abbey player was pulled down in the box. Senior defender Amanda Maddock buried the ensuing penalty kick to lock the match at one apiece.

Just 12 minutes later, the Bears scored the go-ahead goal as Mariel Mena sent a cross to Elizabeth Hawes, who was stationed in front of the net. She gathered the ball, made a turn and fired home the game winner at the 82:46 mark.

Belmont Abbey held the advantage in corner kicks at 3-2. Goalkeeper Kelsey Lovell made six saves in the net, three in each half.