SWEET BRIAR, Va. – The Sweet Briar College field hockey team (2-13, 2-6 ODAC) secured its first win over the Roanoke College Maroons (6-10, 3-4 ODAC) in this century with a 2-1 overtime victory at Thayer Field this evening.
Sweet Briar and Roanoke played a scoreless opening quarter. The Vixens earned the game's first penalty corner at 8:29, with junior
Megan Newton (Jaffrey, N.H.) sending a shot high 10 seconds later. Junior goalkeeper
Reiyn Hart (Bridgton, Maine) made her first save at 14:10 to keep the teams level heading into the second period.
First-year
Liv Werner (Fredericksburg, Va.) put Sweet Briar ahead at 21:59, scoring her first goal of the season off an assist from senior
Gigi Hutman (Bordentown, N.J.) shortly after a Vixens penalty corner. Hart preserved the lead with a save at 24:40. Sweet Briar continued to press, with senior
Emmi Burdine (Huntington Beach, Calif.) having a shot blocked and sophomore
Haley Littlefield (Albany Township, Maine) forcing a save from the Roanoke goalkeeper at 28:42. The Vixens took a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Roanoke answered early in the third quarter. After Hart stopped a shot at 30:22, the Maroons scored at 31:02 to tie the game at 1-1. Hart then turned away six more shots during the period, finishing the quarter with seven saves as Roanoke held a 10-1 advantage in shots.
The teams remained tied throughout the fourth quarter. Burdine tested the visiting goalkeeper with a shot on goal at 53:53, while Hart denied chances at 55:48 and at 56:16. Despite an 8-2 Roanoke edge in fourth-quarter shots, Sweet Briar held firm to send the contest into overtime.
Hart delivered another crucial stop at 61:21, saving an attempt. Just 41 seconds later, Littlefield scored her fourth goal of the season, again with Hutman providing the assist, to secure the Sweet Briar victory at 62:02.
Littlefield finished with a goal and two shots on target, Werner scored on her lone shot, and Hutman recorded two assists. Burdine led the Vixens with three shots. Hart finished with 12 saves against 13 shots on goal, helping Sweet Briar overcome Roanoke's 23-8 advantage in total shots and 5-3 edge in penalty corners.
Highlights
- Werner's second-quarter goal marks the first of her career.
- Hart has now totaled 17 saves and only two goals allowed through the past three games.
What's Next
The Vixens will close out the 2026 season at Meredith on Oct. 31st.
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