AMHERST, Va. — Sweet Briar senior Victoria Lawson opened the 2020 season with a five-goal performance, as the Vixens dropped a 15-11 decision to North Carolina Wesleyan at Amherst County High School on Wednesday evening.

Sweet Briar (0-1) sophomore Kaylah Bailey (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored her first goal in a Vixens uniform to open the scoring at 26:20 off an assist from first-year Zerah Chase (Virginia Beach, Va.). The two sides exchanged tallies over the opening 10 minutes with Bailey's goal followed by a strike from North Carolina Wesleyan's (1-0) Winter Hardison. 

Sweet Briar's K. Mullins (Richmond, Va.) responded with the first goal of the seniors' 2020 campaign. Hardigan struck again before Chase and Lawson (Shipman, Va.) scored two goals each.

Holding a 6-2 advantage with 11:39 left in the opening half, the Vixens saw North Carolina Wesleyan go on a five-goal run that extended into the second half when Hardison scored the first goal of the second half to give the Battling Bishops a 7-6 lead with 29:45 left in regulation.

Sweet Briar answered with three of the next four goals credited to the Vixens with Lawson scoring twice and Mullins adding a tally.

Lawson's goal with 19:52 left in regulation gave the Vixens their final lead of the evening at 9-8.

North Carolina Wesleyan would score seven of the final nine goals to leave with the 15-11 road victory.

North Carolina Wesleyan's Hardison led all scorers with seven tallies on the day, while Lawson led Sweet Briar with five goals and two assists. 

Lawson, Mullins and first-year goalkeeper Maddie Schulman (Houston, Texas) all tallied four ground balls for Sweet Briar. On defense, Lawson led Sweet Briar with three caused turnovers and also led the Vixens with seven draw controls.

In goal, Schulman recorded 11 saves for Sweet Briar.

Next-up for the Vixens is a 1 p.m. home game against Huntingdon on Saturday, February 15.