Frederick, Md. --- The Sweet Briar field hockey team suffered a tough loss on Saturday afternoon, falling in a 2-1 nailbiter to Hood College.  The Blazers scored the go-ahead goal with less than a minute remaining in the contest.

The Vixens opened the scoring mid-way through the first period.  Loralei Whittaker (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) drove a shot in from outside the circle that was tipped in by Kimberley Orchowski (Crofton, Md./Arundel) at 17:09.  Sweet Briar held that lead into the break.

Hood notched the equalizer just three minutes into the second half.  First-year Ashley Griffin (Littlestown, Pa./Delone Catholic) tallied the goal and the score would remain tied for the next 31 minutes.  Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md./Long Reach)  provided the game-winner, flipping the ball just past the sprawling SBC keeper.

Sweet Briar received outstanding play all game from their young midfielders.  Rachel Lenihan (Westport, Conn./Joel Barlow) and Allison McLamb (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) played a dogged and relentless game from start to finish.  Fellow first-year Skylar Rowan (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School) made her first collegiate start in goal for the Vixens.  Rowan was strong throughout the match, with her most impressive save coming on a breakaway scoring attempt by the Blazers in the 65th minute.

Sweet Briar will return to action next Saturday when they open their home slate with a 3 p.m. tilt against Notre Dame of Maryland University.

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