BALTIMORE, Md. — First-year Olivia Peete placed two shots on frame, while fellow first-year Katelyn Meyer made nine saves in the Vixens' 3-0 road loss to Notre Dame (Md.) at Alumnae Field.
 
"Considering we were a player down today with an already small roster, I think we did a great job adjusting and focusing on our goals today," said head coach Jason Capps. "We simply had a couple of mental mistakes take us off course today and we have to be more disciplined in those moments."
 
Meyer (Smithsburg, Md.) was called into action in the third minute, while first-year Maddie Wine (Stafford, Va.) threatened the goal in the fifth minute only to see her shot turned away by Notre Dame (Md.) (2-0-0) goalkeeper Myla Young.
 
The two sides exchanged shots and saves in the sixth minute, with Peete (Oakton, Va.) placing a shot on frame only to see it saved by Young.
 
The Vixens' (0-2-0) defense held strong over the opening 24 minutes, but a hydration break allowed the Gators to reorganize and score back-to-back goals in a span of five minutes. The first Gators strike came in the 25th minute when Kayla Grube scored from 30 yards out off an assist from Sara Morales.
 
A second goal for the hosts came in the 30th minute as Grube scored her second goal of the day off a free kick from the just outside the 18-yard box.
 
After Notre Dame (Md.) took a 2-0 lead to halftime, the second half started quietly until Colette Pierce headed in the third and final goal of the day following a second hydration break.
 
Peete put the Vixens' final shot of the day on frame in the 80th minute, but Young again denied the Vixens.
 
Peete finished the day with two shots on frame, while Wine took the Vixens' third shot. In goal, Meyer tallied nine saves, while junior Sammy Holton (Arbutus, Md.) recorded one save as a reserve.
 
"We have a lot to build on this season and in the future," Capps added. "We have a passion this year that I haven't seen before and we're beginning to see the foundation built right before us. And these young women are feeling that, which is great to see. I'm very excited about some of the possibilities ahead."
 
Sweet Briar returns to the road on Saturday, with a 1 p.m. kickoff scheduled in Front Royal, Va. against Christendom.