Belmont Abbey senior midfielder Dan Morrissey tied for the game-high with four goals, but the ninth-ranked Pfeiffer Falcons scored four straight to start the third period to break a 4-4 stalemate and defeat the Crusaders 12-8 this afternoon at Alumni Field. The Falcons move to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey slips to 7-4 overall and 1-2 in Conference Carolinas.

The two teams were tied at four at the half as the Crusaders closed the first quarter by scoring three unanswered goals after going down 2-0 to start the game. The Falcons responded by scoring two of the three second quarter goals, the last coming from Kory Lutes with one second left, to knot the game at four.

Pfeiffer continued its momentum to start the second half, scoring four-straight out of the gate to build an 8-4 lead. The Crusaders fired right back by scoring the last goal of the third and the first strike of the fourth to close the lead to 8-6. The two teams then exchanged goals, as Morrissey's fourth and final goal at the 8:09 mark of the fourth dropped the Pfeiffer lead to 9-7.

The Falcons, however, scored three of the last four goals, including the final two, to seal the 12-8 victory.

Morrissey scored four goals on five shots, while Connor Sellars and Daniel Marshall both netted two each. Connor Doyle, Joey McGinley and Scotty Steele all had one assist.

Lutes led the Falcons with four goals, while Elliott Gilbert totaled three. Steven Tilmon scored twice and Robert Hope, Spencer Allen and Matt Michaeli each had one. Pfeiffer outshot the Abbey 46-27 and won 17 of 22 face-offs.