Belmont Abbey defender Ben Vangucci scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute to lift the Crusaders men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the visiting Erskine College Flying Fleet this afternoon. The Abbey, which did not qualify for the Conference Carolinas Tournament, ends its season with a record of 6-11-1 overall and 4-7-0 in Conference Carolinas, while Erskine slips to 8-7-1 overall and 6-5-0 in Conference Carolinas.

After a scorless first half in which the Abbey outshot Erskine7-4, Vangucci's marker at the 65:22 mark provided all of the scoring. Ross Smith sent a long corner kick that sailed over the box and was knocked out of bounds by an Erskine player. Defender Tom Wigley made a quick throw in from the left side, tossing it all the way to the six yard box, where Michael Valencia dropped a back pass to Vangucci, whose one-timer beat Roberto De La Vina for the score.

Erskine pressed on but the Abbey defense held on, using a man advantage to its favor after an Erskine player was sent off with 12 minutes left.

The Crusaders outshot Erskine 14-6 and held a 10-4 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Louis Liberatore, one of four seniors honored prior to the game, made two saves, while De La Vina stopped seven.

Along with Liberatore, John Dandanell, Stuart Kirk and Jack Reid were honored before the game.