Belmont Abbey sophomore forward Cierra Skyers netted her ninth goal of the year in the 11th minute and the Crusaders defense held off a charging second half pressure by Pfeiffer as the women's soccer team earned a 1-0 win this afternoon at Alumni Field on Senior Day.

The win moves the Abbey's record to 9-6-2 overal and a final Conference Carolinas record of 8-3-0, while Pfeiffer, which was atop the league standings, falls to 10-6-2 overall and a final mark of 8-2-1 in the league. A win today would have given the Falcons the regular season title and the top overall seed in next week's Conference Carolinas Tournament.

Seniors Montana Rindahl and Stephanie Aguilar earned their first career starts, along with classmates Hannah Kohls, Melissa Pereira, Simone Melvin and Ale Moucha

With the win today, Belmont Abbey will be seeded no lower than fourth and could get the third seed if Erskine defeats Limestone on Saturday. Regardless of that outcome, the Crusaders will host a quarterfinal match Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Skyers gave the Abbey the only goal it would need at the 10:54 mark. A Pfeiffer defender attempted a back pass toward her own goal but her effort went to the feet of Skyers 20 yards from goal, who was all alone with no defender near her.

Streaking towards the goal, Skyers-with goalkeeper Blakeney Blair charging off her line towards her-slid a shot underneath Blair and into the empty net from 10 yards away for her ninth goal of the year, which turned out to be the only marker of the contest.

Pfeiffer turned up the pressure in the second half but did not gain a legitimate scoring chance as senior goalkeeper Kohls posted her eighth shutout of the season.

The Falcons outshot the Abbey 11-8 but the Crusaders attempted four of the game's five corner kicks. Kohls and Blakeney both made four saves.

Belmont Abbey finished its home Conference Carolinas schedule with a 5-0 record, surrendering just one goal.