SWEET BRIAR, Va. — Rae Rae Dillon smashed home the game winner in the 16th minute to earn Sweet Briar the 1-0 home victory over Southern Virginia on Friday afternoon at Thayer Field.
 
"Rae has stepped up time and time again to bring the heat and get the job done," said head coach Hannah Lott.
 
Sweet Briar (3-7) went on the attack off the opening whistle, with sophomore Maggie Groetsch (Asheville, Va.) forcing the first save of the game in the third minute when she called Southern Virginia's (0-10) Kyla Nase into action.
 
The Vixens controlled the possession for much of the opening period, but saw its second shot of the period in the 15th minute, blocked by a Knights defender.
 
The momentum Sweet Briar carried from the late push on goal in the opening period led to a celebration moment in the 16th minute when the Vixens pushed down the field with junior Alexis Jones (Suffolk, Va.) on the right wing. Jones fed a pass across the goal mouth to Dillon (Hopewell, Va.) who smashed her shot into the back of the net. Dillon's goal was the second of the season for the first-year and the first game-winner of her collegiate career.
 
Southern Virginia's first look at goal came in the 18th, but the Knights saw Mariely Aquin's attempt skip wide of the frame.
 
Jones forced a save by Nase in the 27th minute, the last shot attempt by either team in the opening half as the Vixens went to the break up 1-0.
 
Sweet Briar continued to control possession in the third period, taking four shots in a six-minute span, including a shot that was turned away by Nase off the stick of sophomore Ingrid Stacia (Richmond, Va.).
 
Junior goalkeeper Rosemary Austin (Commerce Township, Mich.) made her first save of the day in the 45th minute, when Elizabeth Sorto took a deep shot before being denied by Austin.
 
The fourth period saw the Vixens outshoot the Knights 3-0, with back-to-back shots in the 46th minute blocked by Southern Virginia defenders.
 
Jones led Sweet Briar with four shots, while earning an assist on the Dillon goal.
 
Sweet Briar will play host to Wells on Saturday, October 12, with the opening whistle scheduled for noon. The Vixens' meeting with the Express will serve as Senior Day, with Sweet Briar honoring seniors Lashlee McCray (Richmond, Va.) and Caroline Trimmer (Toano, Va.).