Lenoir-Rhyne Tops Belmont Abbey In NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Lenoir-Rhyne University women's soccer team (17-2-1) rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat Belmont Abbey College (17-2-3), 2-1, Friday evening in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament at the Walden Soccer Complex.

L-R will now face the top-seeded and host school, Columbus State University (19-1-1), Sunday at Noon. Lenoir-Rhyne is the fourth seed in the regional while Belmont Abbey was seeded fifth. Columbus State is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division II.

Belmont Abbey's Emily Archer (Cornelius, N.C.) opened the scoring at the 22:43 mark of the first half when she scored on a ball played over the top. Carly Kensinger (Alta Loma, Calif.) was credited with the assist for the Crusaders.

Lenoir-Rhyne quickly tied the match in the 28th minute when junior midfielder Catherine Hauck (Lake Mary, Fla.), the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Women's Soccer Player Of the Year, scored on a penalty kick. The goal was Hauck's eighth of the season.

The contest remained one-all until junior midfielder Mariel Mena (Gainesville, Fla.) tallied the game-winner with a shot from 25 yards out off a pass from senior midfielder Audrey Moore (Dublin, IRELAND).

L-R held an 11-9 advantage in shots taken in the match while sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.), a 2010 First-Team All-SAC honoree, picked up the win after tallying a pair of saves.

Belmont Abbey's Anna Donaldson (Neptune Beach, Fla.) suffered the loss in goal despite stopping three shots.