SWEET BRIAR, Va. - Sweet Briar lacrosse found the net seven times on Saturday but fell 15-7 to visiting Virginia Wesleyan College to open conference play.

Sweet Briar got on the board early in the first half as first-year Stewart Hulfish (Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton) found the net at 5:47. Her goal tied the game at 1-1. The Vixens pulled ahead 2-1 three minutes later, on a goal from senior Ellie Donahue (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal).

Five unanswered goals by Virginia Wesleyan followed, pushing the score to 5-2 before Hulfish put a halt to the run with a goal at 25:15. Virginia Wesleyan added two more tallies before the break to go into the half with an 8-3 lead.

In the second half, Sweet Briar had an answer for each Marlin goal, never allowing them to score more than two back-to-back. Donahue scored her second of the game at 38:35 to pull Sweet Briar within six. Junior Megan Behrle (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) found the goal for the first time in the 44th minute followed by two from Hulfish.

Hulfish led the Vixens with four goals and one assist. Junior Meredith Newman (Charlottesville, Va./Tandem) picked up three assists. The Marlins were led by Laura Norris, who netted seven and Bethany Adomanis who picked up five feeds.

Vixen goalie sophomore Lisa Weisbrich (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) came up big for Sweet Briar in the game. She finished with 22 stops on the day.

Sweet Briar hits the road for the first time on Friday. The Vixens travel to Washington College for a 7:00 p.m. game.

2008-03-01