AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken women's soccer team lost a hard fought contest against Belmont Abbey by a 2-1 score Monday afternoon in a non-conference contest.

The Pacers are now 1-2 on the season while the Crusaders move to 2-1 on the year.

Head coach Hilary George's team put pressure on the visitors in the early going as Catherine McHale had a shot that narrowly missed the back of the net. Willa Olson and Brye Epley fired a shot apiece that was stopped by BAC's keeper.

Tori Caldwell's attempt from 20 yards out in the 21^st minute hit the cross bar, bounced down and was cleared by the Crusaders.

Trailing 1-0 after a score in the 36^th minute, USC Aiken continued attacking. Sarah Drury rocketed a shot that was stopped in the 39^th minute of play. Then, at the 40:56 mark, Epley found Drury racing down the pitch. Drury corralled it and booted the ball past the keeper, knotting the score at 1-1.

USC Aiken had a pair of shots that were saved in the early going of the second period. In the 67^th minute of action, Casey Rish blasted a shot after a corner kick from Amanda Giordano. However, it hit the cross bar. Tashiana Kwatowski and Sarah Moore tallied shots on goal within a two-minute span, but both were saved.

After a foul on USC Aiken at the top of the box, the Crusaders scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal at the 81:45 mark on a free kick.

For the match, USC Aiken held a 15-11 edge in shots, including an 11-4 margin in shots on goal.

Karin Cadwalader played all 90 minutes between the pipes. She stopped a pair of shots.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they play at North Greenville at 7 p.m.