SWEET BRIAR, Va. — Sophomore Zerah Chase posted a season finale hat trick on Monday afternoon as the Vixens fell 14-10 to the visiting Eastern Mennonite Royals at the Sweet Briar Lacrosse Field.
The Vixens (1-8) took an early lead when sophomore Kaylah Bailey (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored with 24:46 left in the opening period. Bailey answered the first Eastern Mennonite (1-4) goal with her second tally at 22:07 left in the first half.
Sweet Briar's lead grew to 3-1 with 22:01 on the clock, when Chase (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored off an assist from first-year Sarah Southard (Culpeper, Va.).
Eastern Mennonite responded to Chase's first goal with seven straight goals to take an 8-3 lead into the final two minutes of the opening half. Sweet Briar closed out the scoring in the first half when first-year Jess Roberts (Woodbury, N.Y.) scored off an assist from fellow first-year Jamison Tarver (Kingwood, Texas).
Roberts opened the second half scoring when she scored a free position goal to cut the deficit to 8-5.
A pair of Eastern Mennonite goals were followed up by goals from Southard and junior Sarah Schindler (Charlotte, N.C.).
The Royals grew the lead to 12-7 with back-to-back scores, before Chase scored for a second time off an assist by Roberts with 10:16 left in regulation.
Junior Ingrid Stacia (Richmond, Va.) assisted on senior Caylin Newman's (Bedford, Va.) goal with 7:09 remaining to pull the scoreline to 13-9 in the Royals' advantage.
One final goal for each team left the final scoreline at 14-10, with Sweet Briar's final score coming off the Roberts to Chase combination.
Chase led the Vixens with three goals, while Roberts dished out a pair of assists. Tarver and first-year goalkeeper Kat Navarro (Carlsbad, Calif.) finished with three ground balls each and Southard picked up six draw controls. On the defensive end, Tarver led Sweet Briar with five caused turnovers.
In goal, Navarro finished with nine saves.
Sweet Briar honored seniors Theresa Carriveau (West Chicago, Ill.), Sydney Campbell (Amherst, Va.), Madison Harpham (Monroe, Va.) and Caylin Newman after Monday's game.
