The women's lacrosse team of Belmont Abbey College fell 11-4 to Mt. Olive on the campus of Limestone College this afternoon.  The loss put an end to the Crusaders' 2016 season as it came in the semifinal round of the Conference Carolinas tournament.  Belmont Abbey finished the 2016 campaign with an 11-7 record.

Despite trailing throughout the first half, the Crusader defense was solid from the start, forcing the Trojans into a low shooting percentage.  Belmont Abbey gave up one goal early, but forced Mt. Olive turnovers on each of the next two possessions.  By the 8:47 mark, the Abbey defense had forced seven turnovers and kept the team within striking distance.  The defense also surrendered just one goal in the last 18:55 of the half, and the Mt. Olive lead at halftime was 4-0.

In the second half, junior Erin Kunkel put the Crusaders on the board off a pass from Caitlin Cook at the 17:19 point.  Sophomore Rebecca Luca was next to score for the Abbey, as she found the net off a Katelin Glass pass to pull the Abbey within 9-2.  In the final minute of the game, sophomore Rebecca Stromberg put two shots in the net, one off a free position, and one off a nice feed from Cook.  At the end, though, Mt. Olive won the contest 11-4.

On the night, Stromberg's two goals on three shots led the Abbey's offensive efforts.  Cook handed out two assists.  On the defensive end, Glass caused four Trojan turnovers and picked up four ground balls.  Stromberg caused three turnovers.  Goalie Annie Brannon recorded five ground balls and seven saves.