Box Score FERRUM, Va. --- Vixen Lacrosse began its 2012 campaign with a road win at non-conference opponent Ferrum College. The season opening victory marked a number of firsts for the program. Sophomore transfer Olivia Hurt (Charlottesville, Va./The Covenant School), playing in her first Sweet Briar College lacrosse game, netted five goals, tossed in four assists and collected six ground balls, while first-years Kimberly Orchowski (Crofton, Md./Arundel) and Kelsey Barta (Seattle, Wash./Ballard) scored career first goals. Rookie netminder Caroline Baker (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Academy) notched her career first win in goal. Also of note, the leadoff victory gives first-year coach Eboni Preston her career-first win as a collegiate head coach.
Senior attack Sarah Winstead (Apex, N.C./Middlecreek) put the Vixens on the board first in the opening minute of play. Three minutes later, Ferrum netted the equalizer and then the Vixens pushed the pace. SBC held a six to three goal advantage heading into the final third of the first stanza. Ferrum regrouped and scored four goals in a row. With time counting down, Hurt put the Vixens level at seven on an assist from Meaghan Hogan (Middleburg, Va./Foxcroft School). At intermission, the ledger was balanced across the board with the exception of SBC enjoying an advantage of 10 draw controls to Ferrum's five.
Coach Preston noted that, "with the score being tied at half time, we looked at it as this is a chance to start fresh going into the second half. We had a slow start and knew we would pick up our play in the second half."
Sweet Briar gave up a goal only seconds into the final period, but after the miscue, the Vixens went on to score three unanswered goals. Junior midfielder Sam Schwartz hooked up with Hurt on two occasions for two scores, each coming at pivotal times early in the second half. Ferrum again regrouped and collected two goals in a row, only to have the Vixens counter with three unanswered tallies. Ferrum quickly called timeout when the visiting Vixens pushed the count to 13 – 10. Once play resumed, an inspired Panther side found the back of the net twice before the Vixens countered with scores from Orchowski and Barta.
Down the stretch both squads pushed the pace. With 6:42 remaining in the game, Hurt's fifth goal of the contest put the game out of reach for the Panthers. SBC would outscore Ferrum three goals to two the rest of the way. Junior
Jessie Edington (Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton High School) capped scoring when she netted the final tally with 20 seconds left in the game. First-year Vixen goalkeeper
Caroline Baker made 10 stops on the day to help preserve the win for SBC.
Reflecting on the win, Coach Preston said she was most impressed that her squad maintained calm even when the score fell out of favor or momentum changed. In particular the coach pointed out that, "we did a great job of winning draw controls and collecting ground balls. Next week we will focus on limiting turnovers. It was great to see us execute what we've practiced so far this season. I saw a lot of great things from the players today."
The Vixens look to make it two in a row when they return to play on Saturday, March 3. SBC plays host to Wilkes at 4pm on Babcock Field.
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