For the first time in program history, Berry's women's lacrosse team has won 10 games in a season, earning the mark with a 17-7 win over Birmingham-Southern in Southern Athletic Association play Friday night in Birmingham, Ala.
The Vikings won in Birmingham for just the second time in program history and first time since the program's first NCAA season in 2011. Berry trailed 3-2 after one quarter of play, but a 6-1 run in the second quarter, followed by a 6-0 run in the fourth, sent the Vikings to a running clock victory.
Abby Sprayberry had four goals for the Vikings (10-1, 2-0 SAA), including the goal 25 seconds into the second quarter, sparking the 6-1 run after a pass from
Dani Taraska. The score would stay tied for the next eight minutes until
Haley Larsen found the back of the net after a
Jaden Russell feed with 6:35 left in the half. Taraska would score from the free position shortly thereafter, and the run was on. Sprayberry and
Katie Claire Smith would score to make it a 5-0 quater, and while BSC scored with 1:14 left in the period, Larsen would control the next draw and then score from the free position to make it 8-4 at the half.
Sprayberry scored twice in the early stages of the third, then
Molley Cross added a tally with 10:31 left in the third quarter, but the goals would dry up for the rest of the quarter for Berry. Still, BSC could only manage two goals in the period and the Vikings held an 11-6 lead after 45 minutes.
BSC (1-7, 0-3 SAA) scored first in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings netted the last six. In the final two minutes of the game, Russell and
AnnaKate Estock scored their first goals of the game to make it 16-7. Larsen would then be fouled in the waning seconds. With a chance to score a goal to run out the clock on the contest, Berry's captain found the back of the net on the free position shot with five seconds left, and as Berry led by 10 goals, the clock would continue to run to end the contest.
Defensively, the Vikings caused 18 turnovers. Taraska and
Sophie Morris each caused a team-high four turnovers. Morris also added a team-high six ground balls for the Vikings in the win.
Kristina Jones had six saves in the cage to earn the win for the Vikings.
The Vikings will be back in action next Saturday at Noon against Hendrix in SAA play at Valhalla Stadium in Mt. Berry, Ga.
