SWEET BRIAR, Va. – The Sweet Briar College soccer team (0-2-2, 0-0-0 ODAC) battled the William Peace University Pacers (4-2-2, 0-0-0 USA South) to a 1–1 draw Wednesday night at Meyer Field, using a determined defensive effort and a second-half goal from junior
Yadira Castrejon (Connelly Springs, N.C.) to secure the result.
The Vixens created the early chances and applied pressure throughout the opening half. Senior
Alexis Diaz (Connelly Springs, N.C.) tested the William Peace goalkeeper in the second minute, followed by a saved effort from sophomore
Elena Fomin (Middlesex County, Va.) less than two minutes later. Junior
Kaelin Hanson (Los Alamos, N.M.), Castrejon, and sophomore
Violet Walsh (Chesterfield County, Va.) each added shots on target as Sweet Briar controlled the shot advantage, 11–6, over the first 45 minutes.
The Pacers goalkeeper turned away seven first-half shots for William Peace, including saves on efforts from Diaz, Fomin, Hanson, Castrejon, Walsh and junior
Electra McPherson (Madison Heights, Va.), keeping the match scoreless heading into halftime.
Sweet Briar continued to push after the break. Hanson opened the half with a shot on goal in the 48th minute, while first-year
Madison Cole (Lynchburg, Va.) forced another save in the 59th minute. However, William Peace broke through first with a goal in the 62nd minute to give the Pacers a 1–0 lead.
The Vixens answered quickly and decisively. Castrejon returned to the match in the 68th minute and immediately made an impact, first forcing a save from the William Peace goalkeeper in the 69th minute. Moments later, Sweet Briar earned a corner kick, and Castrejon found the back of the net from the corner kick at 69:58 to level the match at 1–1.
Sweet Briar continued to generate opportunities in the closing minutes. Diaz put another shot on frame in the 78th minute, but the Pacers made the save as the teams remained even through the final whistle.
Highlights
- Tonight's game was one of the most closely contested between the two programs since 2014.
- Castrejon tallied her first goal of the season.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Kylee Nickerson (Waterford, Mich.) totaled a career-high 11 saves.
What's Next
The Vixens will close out the non-conference schedule against Agnes Scott on Sept. 20th.
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