SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- The Yeowomen of Oberlin College handed the Vixen field hockey team a 6-1 setback in the home opener held today at Thayer Field.  The contest was a tightly fought battle that was closer than the final score would indicate.

Sweet Briar drew first blood, scoring it's first goal of the season in the 13th minute.  Alexandra St. Pierre ('12/So. Hamilton, Mass.) carried the ball in from the right side and fed the ball across to Morgan Harris ('14/Chesapeake, Va.), who knocked the ball into the back of the cage.

The Vixens would hold that lead until Jodi Helsel ('15/San Diego, Calif.) knotted the score with her first career goal in the 22nd minute.  The score would remain tied until midfielder Lindani Johnson ('14/Homewood, Ill.) scored the eventual game-winning goal at 29:04.  Oberlin would add four goals in the second half, including two in the final 2:07, to account for the final tally.

Sweet Briar had a number of scoring opportunities develop from the forward line of Sarah Cooper ('15/Doylestown, Pa.), Kimberly Orchowski ('15/Crofton, Md.) and Harris.  The young line created several chances, but were unable put the ball past Oberlin goaltender Kiran Puri ('13/Wynnewood, Pa.).  Once again, midfielder Loralei Whittaker ('14/Chesapeake, Va.) led the Vixens with three shots on goal.

Sweet Briar returns to action next weekend when they will travel to Bridgewater College (Va.) to participate in the MAPP Invitational Tournament.   The Vixens will take on St. Vincent College at 3pm on Saturday, September 10.