DANVILLE, Va. - Four different Vixens found the back of the net as the Sweet Briar College soccer team (1-7-3, 1-5-0 ODAC) earned a 4–1 victory over the Averett University Cougars (0-8-0, 0-5-0 ODAC) on Wednesday at Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.
Junior
Yadira Castrejon (Connelly Springs, N.C.) and sophomore
Elena Fomin (Middlesex County, Va.) scored in the first half before seniors
Elise Bennett (Louisa, Va.) and
Emily Michel (Centennial, Colo.) added late goals to secure the win.
Sweet Briar applied pressure early, recording the match's first five shots. Michel and junior
Electra McPherson (Madison Heights, Va.) each fired attempts off target before Castrejon sent a shot wide in the eighth minute. Senior
Alexis Diaz (Connelly Springs, N.C.) then forced the Averett goalkeeper into her first save at 9:27. Castrejon broke through at 11:39, giving the Vixens a 1–0 advantage.
The Vixens continued to generate chances following the opening goal. Diaz registered two more attempts, and Michel struck the left post at 16:26. Fomin entered the match at 20:06 and made an immediate impact, scoring less than three minutes later at 22:58 to double Sweet Briar's lead.
Sweet Briar kept pushing through the remainder of the half, with Fomin and first-year
Addison Benge (Powhatan, Va.) each putting shots on target that were saved. The Vixens entered halftime ahead 2–0 after outshooting the Cougars 12–2 over the opening 45 minutes.
First-year
Madison Cole (Lynchburg, Va.) tested the Cougars goalie just over a minute into the second half, and Diaz followed with another shot on goal at 48:50. Cole forced a second save at 52:15 as Sweet Briar continued to create opportunities. Averett cut the deficit to 2–1 at 59:27 when they converted a penalty kick.
The Vixens maintained their attacking pressure after the Cougars' goal. Diaz put another attempt on target at 68:08, while Castrejon and Cole forced saves at 73:31 and 78:23, respectively. Bennett restored Sweet Briar's two-goal cushion at 80:44, scoring shortly after the Vixens' fourth corner kick of the evening.
Michel returned to the match following Bennett's goal and capped the scoring at 84:37, extending Sweet Briar's advantage to 4–1. The Vixens held Averett scoreless over the closing minutes to finish the victory.
Diaz led Sweet Briar with six shots, including three on goal. Castrejon and Michel each registered four shots and a goal, while Fomin added a goal on three attempts. Cole put all three of her shots on target, and Bennett scored on one of her two attempts. First-year
Arianna Nguyen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Vixens.
Highlights
- Tonight marks the first victory for Sweet Briar against Averett in 22 years.
- Bennett, Fomin, and Michel all recorded their first goals of the season.
- The Vixens put up four goals against a conference opponent for the first time since the 2016 season.
What's Next
The Vixens will head to Hollins on Oct. 17th.
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