SWEET BRIAR, Va. - The Sweet Briar College field hockey team (0-4, 0-0 ODAC) battled the Division II Barton College Bulldogs (1-2, 0-1 SAC) through regulation and two overtime periods Friday night, holding the Bulldogs without a goal before Barton prevailed, 3–2, in a penalty shootout at Thayer Field.
The opening quarter was a physical, back-and-forth affair, with neither side registering a shot. Barton began to generate pressure in the second period, but the Vixens' defense stood firm. After Barton earned an early penalty corner, Sweet Briar answered with a corner of its own at 22:51, taken by first-year
Liv Werner (Fredericksburg, Va.). Junior Goalkeeper
Reiyn Hart (Bridgton, Maine) then made consecutive saves at 25:49 and 26:31 to keep the match level heading into halftime.
Hart continued her strong night in the third quarter, stopping shots from the Bulldogs at 33:31 and at 42:57. The Vixens entered the fourth period still locked in a scoreless draw despite Barton owning a significant edge in shot volume.
Sweet Briar created its best attacking sequence of regulation midway through the fourth. Senior
Emmi Burdine (Huntington Beach, Calif.) put the Vixens' first shot on goal at 47:38, forcing a save from the Barton goalkeeper. Werner immediately generated a penalty-corner opportunity, and junior
Bella Perdue (Richmond, Va.) followed with a shot that was blocked. Werner earned another corner at 54:11, before senior
Gigi Hutman (Bordentown, N.J.) fired a shot wide eight seconds later. Werner received a green card at 57:54, but Sweet Briar successfully protected the 0–0 score through the end of regulation.
Barton pressed throughout the first overtime, producing three penalty corners and several scoring chances. Sweet Briar's defense answered every test. At 68:53, junior
Larkin Shire (Caroline County, Va.) recorded a defensive save on a Bulldogs attempt, and Hart followed moments later with a save to preserve the shutout.
The Bulldogs intensified their attack in the second overtime, outshooting Sweet Briar 10–1 in the period. Hart turned away eight shots during the extra session. Hutman accounted for Sweet Briar's chance in the period with a shot wide at 71:16. Hart's final save came with just three seconds remaining, at 79:57, sending the contest to a shootout.
Sweet Briar opened the shootout strongly as Hutman and Burdine each converted their attempts after Hart stopped Barton's first two shooters. Barton then converted its final three attempts, while Sweet Briar was unable to score on
its final three chances. The Bulldogs secured the 3–2 shootout decision.
Highlights
- Hart finished with the game with 14 saves across the 80 minutes of action.
- Hutman led the team with in shots.
What's Next
The Vixens will host Meredith in their first of two games against the Avenging Angels this season on Sept. 17th.
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