BELMONT, N.C. — Francesca Highton put the Belmont Abbey women's soccer team on the scoreboard and the goal proved to be the difference as the Crusaders earned a 1-0 win over King in the regular season home finale Tuesday at Alumni Field.
Highton's goal came in the opening minute of the second half and held up from there as the Abbey solidified its seventh win in Northwest Division play.
With the win, Belmont Abbey improves to 12-4-1 overall and 10-1-1 in Conference Carolinas play. The 12 wins matches the win total from last season for the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey closes its Northwest Division schedule with a 7-1 record.
King is now 6-8-1 overall and 4-7-1 in conference play. The Tornado are 1-5-1 in the division with one more match to play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders came out firing in the first 45 minutes by taking 12 shots in the first half compared to just one for the Tornado.
- Belmont Abbey's goal came off a free kick in the early moments of the second half when Jadyn Radestock's kick hit the foot of Anna Richárd and towards Highton, who found the back of the net.
- Radestock and Richárd were both credited with assists on the play. It is the fourth straight game that Richárd has earned a point.
- Highton tallied her third goal of the year.
- Ryleigh Dougherty kept the shutout with her two saves. The second save came on a King breakaway with less than 10 minutes remaining in the match.
- The Crusaders finished with 25 shots compared to three for King.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
- Earlier on Tuesday, Belmont Abbey was ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Regional rankings.
- The first NCAA regional rankings will come out Wednesday with the teams listed in alphabetical order.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey closes the regular season with a matinee match at Erskine.
- The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in Due West, S.C.
- The Crusaders will follow that with a home match in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament scheduled for Saturday, November 8. Time and opponent will be determined following the conclusion of the regular season.
