DEMOREST, Ga. - Abby Sprayberry scored five goals, Kristina Jones made 10 saves, and Berry's women's lacrosse team opened up the season with a 15-12 win at the Walker Athletic Complex over host Piedmont.

"My team impressed me by the fact that they did not give up even when they were down or even when it was tied," said BC head coach Brittni Hall. "They literally will lay it on the line for each other until the very end of the game. Piedmont showed up faster, stronger, and way more agressive than we thought. We had some people really step up when it was really hard. I was really impressed with how they didn't stop fighting until the very end."

With the game tied at 11-all with 9:22 remaining in regulation, momentum was on the host's side until a turnover on a PU free position attempt and a ground ball pickup in net by Jones helped to spring the Berry (1-0) offense. After a successful clear, Dani Taraska completed a hat trick in her first collegiate game to make it 12-11. Later in the quarter, Sprayberry drew a foul in the 8-meter and converted on the free position attempt to give Berry the 13-11 lead with 4:52 to go. After another draw control by the Vikings, Haley Larsen drew a foul in the 8-meter and scored her hat trick goal to make it 14-11 as the clock dwindled down to 3:43. Finally, after a Lions turnover, AnnaKate Estock scored off a feed by Adrienna Van Soelen with 74 seconds left to make it 15-11. Piedmont would net a consolation goal in the dying embers, giving Berry a 15-12 win.

For Sprayberry, the five goals were a result of her teammates putting her in good positions to be able to finish. "We all know each other so well and know how each other play," the junior said. "We can kind of read when someone's going to be open and when someone is going to cut, so it really was not about me taking [the shots], it was them seeing it and having faith and passing the ball."

Jones had nearly as many saves in net tonight as she did during the 2022 campaign. The junior, who didn't know she would be starting until 15 minutes before the game, kept the Lions 0-for-8 on free position shots  "It goes back to focus," Jones said. "We talk about what's the most important thing next, and in those cases, it was the free position shot. In that moment, I'm laser focused on the free position."

"Kristina is a senior and she has been very consistent in the cage," Coach Hall said. "We made the decision for this game to get her in there and see what she can do, and she did a heck of a job. It was incredible."

In addition to their hat tricks, Larsen and Taraska each had an assist to finish off four-point nights. Molley Cross had a team-high two assists. While Berry kept Piedmont (0-1) off the board on free position attempts, the Vikings went 5-of-10 as a team, led by Sprayberry's pair.

The Vikings will be back in action Saturday when they play host to Huntingdon in Mt. Berry, Ga.