By John Fitzgerald

Belmont Abbey Women's Lacrosse team fell to Wingate 13-9 in today's season opener.  With 19:08 left in the first half, Sophomore Rebecca Luca found the back of the net for the the first Abbey goal of the season.  Just 29 seconds later, the Abbey went up 2-0 when Erin Kunkel set up Katelin Glass for a goal.  With 2:23 left in the half, Mackenzie Miller scored on a Maeve Healy pass to put the Abbey in front 6-2, a lead it took into halftime.

Wingate responded quickly by scoring three goals in the opening five minutes of the second half to make it a 6-5 game.  After the Bulldogs tied the game, Kunkel put the Crusaders in front again with 21:55 remaining in the game.

Wingate went an offensive spurt, scoring three goals in a 2:16 span.  The Abbey did not go away.  Luca scored with just under seven minutes left to keep the Abbey within three.  Two Wingate goals in the final five minutes, however, helped the Bulldogs inch past the Abbey for a 13-9 win.

On the night, Luca led the Abbey's impressive offensive performance, as she scored four goals on four shots.  Kunkel went 2-for-2 on the night, while also handing out two assists.

Glass won three draw controls, tied for the game's high.  Miller picked up a game-high five ground balls.  Junior goalie Reilly Johnson recorded four saves in the contest.

The Abbey will be back in action Friday afternoon when it welcomes the Tampa Spartans.