Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Women's Lacrosse team hosted Belmont Abbey College tonight in Conference Carolinas action. The highly anticipated matchup was as advertised, with both teams going on scoring runs, but the Crusaders came away with the win, 15-14. With the loss, the Lions fall to 5-2 on the season, 0-2 in conference play.
 
Meghan Jennings got things started for the Lions with a goal at 14:14 in the first quarter to make it 1-0 Lions. Belmont Abbey responded with three straight goals to give the Crusaders a 3-1 lead. Demi Czynski got in on the action with 7:15 to play in the first with a goal assisted by Kristi Fisher, to make it 3-2 Crusaders. A minute later, Meghan Jennings found the net for the second time tonight to tie things up at 3-3. Belmont Abbey would answer back to end the first quarter leading 4-3. 
 
The Crusaders opened up the second quarter with a goal to take a 5-3 lead, but Paige Murphy would respond with a goal with 9:31 remaining in the 2^nd, assisted by Lauren Kuschel to make it 5-4 Belmont Abbey. Jennings would tie things up shortly after on a goal assisted by Kuschel to make it 5-5. With 5:50 to play in the 2^nd, Kristie Fisher gave the Lions the 6-5 lead on a goal assisted by Jennings. Lauren Kuschel found net with 4:09 left to play in the 2^nd to make it 7-5 Lions. The Crusaders responded with two goals of their own to tie the game at 7. To close out the quarter, Murphy tacked on another goal for the Lions to make it 8-7, but Belmont Abbey responded to close out the quarter tied at 8. 
 
In the third, the Crusaders started out strong scoring three goals in a row to take an 11-8 lead. Kuschel answered back with 7:09 to play in the 3^rd to make it 11-9, but the Crusaders netted two goals in two minutes to go up 13-9. Murphy scored her 3^rd of the night to make it 13-10 Crusaders. 
 
In the fourth, Belmont Abbey struck first with a goal to go up 14-10, but Emmanuel would answer in a big way. Mikaela Austin netted a goal with 10:31 to play, assisted by Fisher to make it 14-11. Murphy grabbed her 4^thgoal of the night with 9:53 to play to cut the lead to two, 14-12. Austin would score again to make it 14-13 with 9:23 to play. The Crusaders tacked on a goal with 5:25 to play in the quarter to go up 15-13. The Lions would respond with a goal by Fisher with 3:26 to play to lose in heartbreaking fashion, 15-14. 
 
Paige Murphy led the way for the Lions with 4 goals on the night, with Meghan Jennings adding 3 and Lauren Kuschel/Mikaela Austin contributing 2 a piece.
 
Next up, the Lions will host Chowan on Saturday at noon. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.