A 7-0 run that spanned from the end of the first half through the first minute of the fourth quarter enabled Berry's women's lacrosse team to earn a 20-12 victory over Sewanee in Southern Athletic Association action from Sewanee, Tenn., Saturday afternoon.
"I am so proud of today's performance," said Berry head coach
Brittni Hall. "We had to overcome some obstacles and move a lot of players around, but the team trusted the coaching and trusted the process. They really just fought hard throughout the game."
The Vikings (12-2, 4-0 SAA) never trailed in the contest, but the first half was tight. In the first,
Dani Taraska,
Katie Claire Smith, and
Jaden Russell each scored a pair as the Berry built a 7-4 lead after 15 minutes. Sewanee (7-8, 1-3 SAA) would make it close in the second quarter, as it was 10-9 entering the final minute of the half. However,
Haley Larsen would score with just 10 seconds in the half, giving the Vikings the momentum and an 11-9 lead.
Berry would build on that momentum in the second half, keeping the Tigers scoreless through the third quarter. Five different players each found the back of the net for BC as the Vikings led 16-9 after three. In the fourth, the run would continue as
Chloe Pender scored the first goal of the period 47 seconds in, giving the Vikings a 17-9 lead and finishing a 7-0 run.
Still, this was a Sewanee team that had made major comebacks in recent games and the Vikings had to be leery when a goal made it 17-10 with 9:52 to go. "We knew Sewanee was a second half team. They've taken three strong opponents into overtime this year. The third and fourth quarter, we reminded ourselves that the game wasn't over and that we couldn't let up and we couldn't slow down," Coach Hall said.
It would take almost four minutes for Sewanee to get another goal to make it 17-11. From there, the Vikings would go on a 3-0 run to seal the game, with
Abby Sprayberry, Smith, and Russell each scoring to make it 20-11. Sewanee scored a consolation goal in the final 30 seconds, but by then, the Vikings had done more than enough to earn the win to stay unbeaten in SAA play.
Russell and Smith each had four goals, with each setting a season-best mark in the category. Taraska completed a hat trick to give her 47 goals for the season. Larsen had three goals and three assists for a six-point day, tying her with Taraska for the team-lead in points with 53.
Kristina Jones had 11 saves in net, the third time this season she's had double-digit saves in a contest.
The Vikings will be idle until Apr. 11 when they host Oglethorpe in the final home game at Valhalla Stadium in the regular season. A win would clinch a host position for the Vikings in the first two rounds of the SAA Championship.
