Box Score SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- Prior to Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference match with the visiting Wasps of Emory and Henry College, the Vixen soccer team honored six seniors. The College radio station, WNRS, added to the festivities by hosting a tailgate and providing half-time music. While the Sweet Briar side put together a solid effort in the second half, the three-goal halftime deficit proved too much. Emory and Henry upended the home team by the score of 1-4.
Emory and Henry struck early when Erica Merriman ('15/Cornelius, N.C.) freed herself of a defender at the top of the Vixen 18-yard box and fired a shot to beat SBC keeper Seanne Weekes ('12/San Jose, Calif.) in the 5th minute. Ten minutes later Emory and Henry forward Alison Azbell ('12/Morganton, N.C.) also found the back of the net from the top of the 18-yard box.
The Wasps continued to test the Vixen back line. Defenders Rebecca Buechler ('14/Chesapeake, Va.) and Nina Kappel ('15/Rye, NH) kept busy for most of the afternoon, tracking forwards and clearing balls. In the 33rd minute, Kellie Flaherty ('13/South Lake, Tx.) ripped a long-range shot that just did beat a leaping Weekes. The Emory and Henry tally put the Wasps up three goals to none going into intermission.
The midfield also saw a great deal of action. For the game a total of 13 fouls and one card were issued. Rachel Buechler ('14/Chesapeake, Va.) and Alison Lifka ('13/Asheville, N.C.), who were charged with winning possession in the center third, battled with the Wasps midfielders while looking to advance the Vixen attack. Forwards Sierra Palmieri ('12/Ft. Collins, Colo.) and Ebet Davey ('12/Atlanta, Ga.) benefited from through balls played by the midfielders. Palmieri generated several good looks, but could not convert.
On the heels of Merriman netting her second goal of the game for the Wasps off an assist from Ellyn Colles ('15/Lyndhurst, Ohio), Lifka took advantage of being left alone in the midfield. She blasted a shot from 35-yards out that beat the Emory and Henry keeper, nicked the cross bar and safely fell behind the goal line to put the Vixens on the board with 13 minutes left in regulation. Palmieri tested the Emory and Henry keeper one last time in the 88th minute, but to no avail, the score would stand at 1-4 in favor of the visitors.
Saturday was a send-off for both the senior Vixen soccer players and the 2011 soccer season. Weekes, Palmieri, Davey, Jacqueline Dodwell (Springfield, Ill.) Jillian McDaniel (Mechanicsburg, Va.), and Lindsay Arnett (Lakeville, Minn.), played their final career game in front of a lively crowd situated atop the hill at Babcock Field. "It was great to celebrate the seniors today in front of their families, friends and fans. We finished with a solid second half effort," remarked SBC Head Coach Kevin Fabulich, "and I look forward to working with the large group of returning players next year."
