GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Converse (2-3-2, 1-2-1 CC) soccer team dropped a 6-1 contest to conference-leading Limestone (6-1-0, 4-0-0 CC) on Saturday evening at Saints Field. The Valkyries allowed four first half goals and could never recover en route to the tough conference loss.
Hallie Lycans and Madison Reeves led the Purple and Gold with two shots each, while Kayla Reeve posted the only score for Converse. Alex Mathis powered the LC offense with two goals on six total shots. Limestone outshot the Valkyries 31-8, including a 17-2 advantage on shots on goal.
The Valkyries wasted no time, taking an early lead in the fourth minute after Reeve intercepted a pass in the box and chipped it just over the keeper's head. However, the Saints knotted the contest at 1-1 in the eighth minute as Emma Hickson shot the rock from about 17 yards out and put it just into the bottom-right corner of the net.
Limestone took the lead just over nine minutes later when Mathis connected on her first score of the night and added to that advantage in the 33rd minute after Mathis connected on her final goal of the afternoon. Holly Rawcliffe posted a goal in the 42nd minute to send the Valkyries into the locker room trailing 4-1.
Converse was not able to manage any offense in the second half, but the Saints continued to add to the score, picking up another goal just four minutes into the second half. From that point it was a stalemate between the two offenses as neither team could beat the other's keep. Hannah Phillips added a scrap goal in the 85th minute to make the final score 6-1.
Rachel Stalford took the loss on the afternoon after allowing four goals in the first 45 minutes of play, while Veronica Smeltzer picked up the win for the Saints.
Converse will be back in action on Wednesday, September 27 as it welcomes Chowan to Fulp Field for a 1 p.m. kickoff.