MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's lacrosse team went on the road for the second straight game to face Mount Olive in a matchup of the last two unbeaten teams in the Conference Carolinas standings Saturday afternoon.
 
The Crusaders held the halftime lead but a big third quarter for the Trojans proved to be the difference as Mount Olive came away with the 19-14 victory.
 
Olivia Carlino and Riley D'Andrea led the way for the Crusaders with four goals each in the contest.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 7-5 overall, 4-1 in the conference. Mount Olive is now 7-4, 5-0 in the league.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams went back and forth early in the first 7:30 of the opening quarter as the Trojans scored the opening two goals before goals by D'Andrea and Carlino pulled the Crusaders even.
• Mount Olive took a 7-5 lead in the second quarter before Belmont Abbey rallied with three straight goals to take an 8-7 lead into halftime.
• D'Andrea accounted for the first of the three goal run before Hailey Carroll and Kacey Kubarewicz scored the other two goals.
• The Trojans outscored the Crusaders 7-2 in the third period to take control of the game and extend the lead.
• Carroll added a second goal in the fourth quarter with Reilly McCarthy, Angela Bagatta and Emma Pherson accounting for the rest of the scoring for the Crusaders.
• Bagatta, Carroll and Christina Fabrizio had an assist each for The Abbey.
• Summer Eddinger finished with 12 saves for Belmont Abbey with Kate Duell accounting for the other three saves.
• The Crusaders finished with 11 ground balls with Eddinger leading with three.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return home for its final game before the Easter break with a nonconference matchup against Lander.
• That game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start at Alumni Field.