Firebirds Fall, 15-7 on the Road at Newberry

NEWBERRY, SC – Senior attack Amber Walls led the Firebirds with four goals, but the University of the District of Columbia women's lacrosse team was defeated by non-regional opponent Newberry College, 15-7 on the road at Setzler Field Friday evening.

The Firebirds, fresh off the 3^rd year program's first ever win over Hollins University last Saturday, fell to 1-1 with today's loss. Freshman Vanessa Valentine added two goals to Walls' 4, and junior Jazmin Lopez pitched in another. Junior goalkeeper Dani Falco stopped 10 of 25 shots faced in a complete game effort.

Newberry, which improved to 2-1 on the season with today's win, had nine different scorers, including a game-high five goals by attack Jessica Baxtrom. Naomi Killian and Kylee Shoop each added a pair of goals as well.

The Wolves raced out to a 4-0 lead within the first six minutes of action, and they never looked back. UDC would capitalize on two free-position attempts, with Valentine scoring on one at 17:58 and Walls at 6:36, but a 9-3 draw control advantage, a 15-8 shot advantage, and eight fewer fouls in the first half led to a 9-2 halftime advantage for Newberry.

After a near six-minute scoring drought to begin the second half, Walls opened the scoring with another free-position shot goal at 24:27. Newberry would answer, though, with three straight goals – the first and third scored by Baxtrom – and the Wolves padded their lead to nine, 12-3.

UDC began to fight its way back with a response of three straight goals in less than three minutes. First, Valentine scored on another free-position shot, and then Walls scored the next two at 16:02 and 15:10, cutting UDC's deficit to six, 12-6.

Later on, Lopez would score her lone goal of the day at the 7:50 mark – also on a free-position shot – but the Wolves out-scored the Firebirds 3-1 in the final 10 minutes to win comfortably by an eight-goal margin.

The Firebirds finished 6-of-14 on free-position shots, and they were 16-of-21 on clear attempts.

Next up, UDC will visit non-regional foe Brevard College on Sunday, March 6^th at 12 p.m.