MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - Women's Lacrosse opened up their season with a resounding 20-4 victory over Transylvania thanks to a combined 12 goals from freshman Lillie Swanson (5), senior Dani Taraska (4), and senior Katie Claire Smith (3).
The Vikings were clicking on all cylinders, with a total of nine players getting in on the scoring extravaganza. This was the first time that the Vikings scored 20 goals or more in their season opener since 2013.
The game began with what looked like it was going to be an intense battle, with both teams refusing to give an inch to the other. It was not until under the ten-minute mark of the first quarter that Bella Marrone received a pass from Morgan Barton and slashed it through for Berry's first goal of 2026. Freshman Lillie Swanson made her presence known just a minute later as she took a breakaway opportunity and swiftly turned it into a 2-0 lead for the Vikings. Morgan Barton then paid herself back with a goal of her own to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
The Pioneers finally came up with a response, as they scored two straight to cut the lead to one. Lillie Swanson had other plans though, as she closed out the first quarter with a goal to stretch the lead back to two, 4-2.
The second quarter was all Vikings, as they opened up a vicious 8-0 second quarter run powered by two goals from Taraska, two for Swanson, one from Maddie Harris, and one apiece from Katherine Herrero, Isabel Fransen and Isabel Pregont.
With a commanding 12-2 lead to start the second half, the Vikings continued to pour it on with four different Vikings scoring in the third unanswered to give Berry an 17-2 lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter landed some fight from the Pioneers, as they knocked through two goals to begin the quarter, but Katie Claire Smith and Katherine Herrero each scored down the stretch to shut the door on Transylvania and give the Vikings a 20-4 win in their home opener.
The Vikings return to action on February 13 at Christopher Newport. First draw is set for 5 PM EST.
