Simpson’s Daughter Sets New School Record

Vixens earn all-ODAC honors

CAMERON ADAMS
Sports information director

Melissa Simpson

First-year Melissa Simpson, daughter of chemistry lab manager and instructor Pam Simpson, set a new school record Nov. 11 as Sweet Briar swimming defeated the College of Notre Dame to move to 5-1 on the season.

Simpson’s record-breaking swim came in the 200-meter backstroke. She touched the wall first with a time of 2:33.09, surpassing the previous school record of 2:36.70. The previous record was set by Sharon Bittner in 1989.

On Nov. 9, three Sweet Briar field hockey players were honored with the release of the 2007 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference field hockey team. Sophomore Melissa Carron was a second-team pick, while sophomore Molly McGonegle and senior captain Cat Cox received honorable mention honors.

Carron started 16 of 17 games for the Vixens this fall. Last season’s assists leader, she was third on the team in points and goals, second in assists, and tied for the lead in game-winning goals this season.

McGonegle led the squad in scoring in 2007, tallying four goals and one assist. She scored the game-winning goal in Sweet Briar’s win over Shenandoah University and two of three Vixen goals in the team’s overtime loss to Transylvania.

An honorable mention honoree last season, Cox played 873 minutes in the cage for Sweet Briar this fall. She turned back 143 shots in 2007 to finish her two-year stint in goal with 325 saves.

On Nov. 7, soccer goalkeeper Kristen Johnson ’09 also received honorable mention all-ODAC honors. Johnson eclipsed the 200-save mark this season with a career-high 216 stops. Her saves total was the second highest among ODAC goalkeepers.

It was the second season Johnson received honorable mention honors. She received the nod as a freshman after leading the conference in saves with 175.

A day earlier, volleyball defensive player Laura Jett ’11 also garnered all-ODAC honorable mention honors. Jett collected 327 digs this season for Sweet Briar, averaging 3.48 digs per game. She also tallied 13 assists and 22 aces from the service line.

Jett’s defensive play helped the Vixens finish the season seventh among conference teams in total digs.