Box Score SWEET BRIAR, Va. --- The 2013 Vixen soccer team stormed out of the gates on Friday afternoon in their season opener against Williams Peace University. Chelsea Daniels (Jacksonville, Fla./Pedro) gave fans a glimpse of the new-look Vixen squad when she scored her first career goal to give Sweet Briar an early lead.
William Peace offered a quick counter to knot up the game at one goal apiece. The score would remain tied through the half. Coming into the match, Sweet Briar held a two game advantage in the series with WPU dating back to 2010 (wins in 2010 and 2011).
The visiting Pacers took a two-goal advantage on back-to-back tallies by Shelby Hammond (Clayton, N.C./Clayton) to start the second half. Sweet Briar however, showed grit and continued pressing to get back in the contest.
A miscue on defense, influenced by pressure from SBC striker Grayson Murphy (Salt Lake City, Utah/West), lead to an own goal. The score pulled the young Vixen squad to within a goal at the 63:09 mark.
Murphy continued pushing the pace and in the 75th minute, she combined with fellow first-year forward Emily Welch (Pamplin, Va./Appomatox) to grab the equalizer. Welch collected Murphy's pass through the 18-yard box and deftly finished the ball.
Both teams created chances as the clock counted down, but neither side could find the back of the net.
For WPU, Andreea Enterline (Wendell, N.C./East Wake) recorded six saves in goal. Sweet Briar's second year keeper Katie Tillson (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) made seven stops on 10 shots faced.
Head Coach
Kevin Fabulich is pleased with his young team's first outing. "I'm super proud of how the team played and we are only going to go forward from here."
Sweet Briar now stands at 0-0-1. The team returns to action on Saturday, September 7 for a 1 p.m. match at Trinity (D.C.).
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