NEWBERRY, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey field hockey team closed its season in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament semifinals against No. 3 seed Lander Friday at Newberry's Setzler Field.
The Crusaders battled but it was the Bearcats who came away with the 2-0 win over the Abbey.
With Friday's result, Belmont Abbey closes its season with a 9-8 record. Lander is now 15-3 and advances to Sunday's championship game against Newberry at 1 p.m. Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Belmont Abbey withstood a first-quarter surge from Lander as the Bearcats recorded five shots in the first quarter.
- Lily Willard made three of her four saves in the first half as the Crusaders kept the game scoreless in the first half.
- Lander got on the board with the first shot of the second half to take a 1-0 lead.
- Sarah Schumacher and Jillian Cain both recorded shots in the second half for the Crusaders.
- The Bearcats added a second goal in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 2-0 over the Abbey.
- Belmont Abbey concludes the season after earning its highest seed in the conference tournament.
- The Crusaders finished the 2025 season with its first winning record since the 2021 season.
ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
- Prior to Friday's contest, the five Crusaders who earned all-conference honors all received their awards during a pre-game ceremony.
- Sarah Schumacher, Hailey Leatherman, Lily Willard, Cecilia Müller and Chloe Kiser all received their plaques while Schumacher also earned her Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Cecilia Müller was named to the SAC All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the tournament Sunday.
