ALLENTOWN, Pa --- The Vixen field hockey team exploded for five goals on Sunday, en route to a 5-0 victory over Cedar Crest College.  With the win, Sweet Briar evens its record at 3-3 heading into conference play.

First year Sarah Cooper (Doylestown, Pa.), playing within an hour of her hometown, netted her first collegiate goal, knocking in her own rebound, eight minutes into the game to give the Vixens a 1-0 lead.  Cooper needed only five more minutes to tally career goal number two.  Senior Ariel Yoder ('12/Clemons, N.C.) fired a shot on goal off of a corner, which began a flurry in front of Falcon goalkeeper Lindsay Harrison ('13/Hanover, Pa.).  Cooper was able to tuck the ball inside the left post when Sweet Briar forward Alexandra St. Pierre ('12/So. Hamilton, Mass.) gathered a rebound and fed the ball over to her linemate.

The score remained 2-0, until late in the first half.  Yoder executed a diving tip-in, knocking in a cross from midfielder Loralei Whittaker ('14/Chesapeake, Va.).  Yoder's goal, scored with six seconds remaining in the first half, gave the Vixens a three goal advantage heading into the break.

The Falcons, after only managing one shot in the first half, pressured the Vixens to open the second half.  Cedar Crest put seven shots on goal in the final stanza, but Sweet Briar goalkeeper Madeline Wilson ('12/Orange, Va.) kept her slate perfect for the weekend.   Wilson did not allow a goal during the northern swing to Bryn Mawr and Cedar Crest making 8 saves.

Sweet Briar added two late tallies to account for the final score.  Morgan Harris ('14/Chesapeake, Va.), who created opportunities all afternoon by putting eight shots on goal, broke through in the 58th minute, putting her own rebound into the back of the cage.  Three minutes later, defender Maggie McNamara ('12/Arlington, Va.) carried the ball deep into the Falcon circle, feeding Cooper, who drew a penalty stroke for the Vixens.  St. Pierre calmly converted the stroke at 60:05 to close out the scoring for the afternoon.

The Vixens fired 32 shots on the day, their highest output since September 2009, when they took 39 shots in a game against Wilson College.   Sweet Briar was able to maintain pressure throughout the afternoon by outdrawing the Falcons for corners, 12-3.

Sweet Briar returns to Thayer Field for their next game on Saturday, September 24th.  The Vixens will open conference play against Roanoke College in a Founder's Day Weekend matchup beginning at 12:00.