ROANOKE, Va. - The Sweet Briar College soccer team (2-7-3, 2-5-0 ODAC) scored three unanswered second-half goals to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat Hollins University (1-11-0, 0-8-0 ODAC), 4–2, Saturday afternoon at Berkley Field.
Sophomore
Elena Fomin (Middlesex County, Va.), seniors
Alexis Diaz (Connelly Springs, N.C.) and
Emily Michel (Centennial, Colo.), and first-year
Madison Cole (Lynchburg, Va.) each found the back of the net, while Diaz added an assist to help lead the Vixens' comeback.
Sweet Briar applied pressure early, with Michel recording the match's first shot just over a minute into play. The Vixens broke through at the 8:12 mark when Fomin scored off an assist from Diaz to give Sweet Briar a 1–0 advantage.
Hollins responded at 11:30 and then converted a penalty kick at 20:44 to put the hosts ahead, 2–1.
The Vixens continued to create chances throughout the remainder of the opening half. Fomin put another attempt on target in the 27th minute, but the Hollins goalkeeper made the save. First-year
Arianna Nguyen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) entered in goal for Sweet Briar at 37:46, taking over for starter junior
Kylee Nickerson (Waterford, Mich.). In the closing minutes of the half, senior
Elise Bennett (Louisa, Va.) forced another save before the Vixens earned consecutive corner kicks, but Sweet Briar entered the break trailing by one despite a 9–5 advantage in shots.
Sweet Briar wasted little time drawing even after halftime. Following an early shot from Michel and another attempt by Diaz, the Vixens tied the match at 49:34 when Diaz finished off an assist from junior
Kaelin Hanson (Los Alamos, N.M.). Just over six minutes later, Michel scored an unassisted goal at 55:44 to put Sweet Briar back in front, 3–2.
The Vixens maintained their attacking pressure with a series of shots and corner kicks. Diaz tested Baxter with a shot on goal at 59:03, while junior
Electra McPherson (Madison Heights, Va.) forced a save at 65:35. Diaz put another attempt on target at 74:08 as Sweet Briar worked to extend its lead.
Cole provided the insurance goal at 80:02, scoring off a corner with an assist credited to junior
Yadira Castrejon (Connelly Springs, N.C.). The finish capped the Vixens' three-goal second half and secured the 4–2 victory. Sweet Briar held Hollins without a shot over the final 45 minutes, and Nguyen finished her 52:14 appearance without allowing a goal.
Highlights
- Cole's late-game goal marks the first of her collegiate career.
- Sweet Briar has now earned multiple Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) wins for the first time since 2014.
- Diaz leads the conference in shots and shots on goal with an average of 4.17 and 2.25 per game, respectively.
- Nguyen is fourth in the conference in saves per game with a 7.22 average.
What's Next
The Vixens will host Randolph on Oct. 21st and EMU on Oct. 24th for their Senior Day game.
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