SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- The Sweet Briar field hockey team dropped their conference opener to Roanoke this afternoon by a 6-0 score.  With the loss, the Vixens fall to 3-4 on the season. 

Sweet Briar began the game on the attack.  The Vixens carried the play into the Maroon end and forward Sarah Cooper ('15/Doylestown, Pa.)  fired the game's first shot from the left side at 2:15.  Roanoke goalkeeper Cristina Scichilone ('12/So. Yarmouth, Mass.) made the save and the Maroons began to slowly turn the tide. 

It would take until the the 18th minute for Roanoke to break into the scoring column.  Shannon McCarthy ('14/Westport, Mass.)  took a feed from Stacy Bechtel ('15/Eldersburg, Md.)  and put the ball past Vixen netminder Madeline Wilson ('12/Orange, Va.).  The Maroons added one more goal before the half when Lianna Hachborn ('14/Portland, Me.) put in an unassisted goal with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Roanoke added four more tallies to the leger in the second half, including two more from Hachborn.  Sweet Briar rallied and spent more time in the attacking zone as the game continued.  The Vixens outdrew the Maroons in penalty corners in the second half 6-4.  Sweet Briar was unable to get the ball past Scichilone.

Sweet Briar goalkeeper Madeline Wilson made 10 saves in 51:32 minutes of play, and was strong again in net for the Vixens.  Junior Brooke Scott (Kemah, Tx.)  took the net for the last 24 minutes and made one save.  Sweet Briar was also helped by a stellar defensive save from Maggie McNamara ('12/Arlington) in the 60th minute.

Head Coach Jess Lamina was again impressed by the play of Wilson in goal.  She also noted the work of first years Cooper and Kimberly Orchowski (Crofton, Md.), who created many opportunities in the offensive zone.  "Kim and Scoop worked hard today and I am happy with the way they have stepped up for us so far."

Sweet Briar returns to action on Wednesday, September 28th when they travel to Ashland, Va. to take on Randolph-Macon College at 4pm.