SWEET BRIAR, Va. ---  Senior Megan Thompson (Newport News, Va./Warwick) scored the game-ahead goal in the 56th minute and the Sweet Briar field hockey team went on to claim a 3-1 victory on Saturday from the Gators from Notre Dame (Md.).

SBC forward Hannah Oybkhan (Wilmington, Del./Caravel Academy) netted her second goal of the season at 5:59 to get the scoring underway.   Oybkhan took a feed from junior defender Adelaide Hedge (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor) and tucked the ball into the right corner for her second goal of the season.  The Gators tied the game up when Katie Johnston (Baltimore, Md./Catholic) received a pass back after providing an insert on the first Notre Dame penalty corner of the game.  Johnston was able to get the ball by Sweet Briar goalkeeper Skylar Rowan (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School).  It was the only goal allowed on the day by Rowan, who picked up the first win of her collegiate career.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until the 56th minute.  Vixen first-year Siena Powers (Winston-Salem, N.C./Ronald Reagan) fired a shot in from the top of the circle off of a penalty circle.  Thompson was able to tip the ball into the cage as she charged in toward the right post.  Sweet Briar and Notre Dame traded opportunities for the next dozen minutes until Powers was able to settle a cross from Hedge in front of the goal get off a shot that found the inside of the left post.  The career-first goal for Powers put the game on ice for the Vixens with less than two minutes remaining in the contest.

Head Coach Jess Gray was happy with the way her team came together on Saturday.  "Everyone was sticking with the plan today," noted Gray.  "Our attack was strong all day and really turned it on under the leadership of Megan Thompson and Hannah Oybkhan.   Our attack corners created several great opportunities for us and we were able to make some key adjustments on the move.  I am very proud of the effort we put forward this afternoon."

Sweet Briar returns to the field this Wednesday when they travel to Randolph-Macon for a 4 p.m. start.    The matchup will be the conference-opener for both teams.

Vixen fans are invited to keep connected and learn more about Vixen Athletics via social media: Like us on Facebook, follow us onTwitter and Instagram, read our blog and visit our Vixen YouTube channel.