Steven Evans, Campus Carrier Sports Editor
The Vikings Lacrosse Team struck back from a four-point deficit in the first quarter to rally and defeat the Hendrix College Warriors 12-5 in a conference game Sunday.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), and dropped Hendrix College to 5-6, and 3-1 in the conference.
Following a 0-4 start, the Vikings scored 10 unanswered points and prevented the Warriors from scoring until late in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore attacks Blake Gwizdalski and Max Smerka each scored two goals and had two assists for the Vikings, and junior midfielders Nat Morey and Bryan Byers had two goals apiece as well in the 12-point showing for the Vikings. The Vikings took 47 shots total at the goal, while the Warriors shot 31.
Junior goalie Jordan Boreman had five saves for the Vikings.
“We were very sloppy in the first quarter,” said Berry Head Coach Chris Delfausse, according to BerryVikings.com. “Once we got into a rhythm a little bit, we got the ground balls, played better fundamental defense and had more possessions.”
This was the second time this weekend that the Vikings won a conference competition by scoring 12 points.
On Friday, the Vikings defeated the Rhodes College Lynx by a score of 12-2. Sophomore attack Cory Hall scored five goals in the contest, while Boreman made all seven of the Vikings’ saves.
While Rhodes won more faceoffs than the Vikings at 10-8, the Vikings forced 25 turnovers and took a total of 49 shots as opposed to Rhodes’ 19.
The Vikings will return to action this Saturday where they will face conference Rivals Sewanee: The University of the South at 1 p.m. at home.
“Things are looking up right now,” sophomore defender Jake Lane said. “But we won’t know for sure until after our game against Sewanee this Saturday. They will be the toughest competition yet.”