The Sweet Briar soccer team couldn't capitalize on their chances while opponents Eastern Mennonite did, as the Vixens lost 4-1 at home on Saturday in ODAC action.



The teams battled a strong end-to-end wind, with both sides scoring an own goal off a corner kick in the face of that wind.

Sweet Briar conceded a goal just 2:18 in, as a corner kick deflected off a Vixen defender and spun into the net.

Trailing 3-1 late in the game, a corner kick was partially cleared to Kat Day 20 yards out. She drove a low shot that was originally saved by Brianna Stanard, but then dropped over the endline.

The Vixens held a 12-6 advantage in corner kicks (including 10-2 in the second half), and out-shot EMU 8-3 in the second period (the Royals led 13-10 overall in that category).

Amanda Williams' cross skipped through to Marcy Smucker in the 20th minute for a 2-0 EMU lead. Nine minutes later, Williams got behind the Vixen backline and dribbled around Katie Tillson for a 3-0 scoreline.

Sweet Briar had numerous chances off of Marissa McCord corner kicks in the second half.

Alicia Wooten shot high off a corner with 15 minutes to go. Des'rae Davis then connected on consecutive corners, first heading a ball that Stanard tipped over and then shooting high seconds later.

Early in the second half, Ashley Federico played a ball from the left side that floated just inches wide of the far post.

Sweet Briar's best chance of the first half came when Kaila Beale played a great through ball to Welch, and Federico put the next pass off the crossbar. The offsides flag went up on the play anyways.

Early in the game, McCord played Kayla Kishbaugh through, with the shot saved by Stanard.

Hannah Walker won two headers off set pieces in the first half, with the first going wide of a redirection from Smucker and the second being called offside.

Sierra Martin broke through later in the first period and Tillson made a breakaway save on the play.

EMU added their fourth goal in the 89th minute, as Sara Shenk Moreno collected a partially cleared corner kick and finished low to the far corner to cap the scoring.

Sweet Briar falls to 5-4, 2-4 ODAC and face a huge conference game at Emory & Henry on Wednesday. EMU improves to 4-6-1, 2-3 and jumps ahead of the Vixens in the league standings.