MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 15, 2023) -- There were many celebrations to be had on Mason Field as the Rhodes Lynx defeated the Berry Vikings 20-9 to clinch the regular season SAA conference championship. The win marked the sixth straight season of not losing a regular season conference game. The Lynx will now be the top seed heading into the SAA tournament. 

It didn't take long for the Lynx to strike first. Caroline Kardian pulled in the first draw control to kickstart a fast break where Emily Bruner found Carina Wesker to score in the first 25 seconds of the game. Just over a minute later, Avery Burke found Kardian to send the Lynx up 2-0. Rhodes kept the momentum rolling and outscored Berry 7-1 in the first quarter from six different goal scorers. AnnaKate Estock added the lone goal for the Vikings. 

Rhodes started the second quarter just like they started the game. Bari Pinkett pulled in the draw control to secure possession and Wesker found Burke for a woman-up goal. Chloe Parker notched a free-position goal a minute later to extend the lead 9-1. Vikings got one back as Haley Larsen scored off a failed Rhodes clear opportunity. Rhodes responded with back-to-back goals from Kardian and Burke. Berry tallied the last goal of the half to bring it to 11-3. 

Despite Berry outmatching Rhodes 6-1 on draw controls in the third quarter, the Lynx won the scoreboard battle outscoring the Vikings 3-2. Kardian notched the first goal of the second half off an assist from Parker. Bruner and Wesker continued the 3-0 scoring run to put the Lynx up 14-3. 

The momentum shifted to the Vikings at the end of the third quarter as Dani Taraska and Katie Claire Smith scored to cut into the Lynx lead. Berry started the final stretch winning the first two draw controls and scoring two goals in the first minute, cutting the lead down to seven. The Vikings added a woman-down free position goal to cut the lead down to six. That would be the closest Berry would come as the Lynx outscored the Vikings 6-1 in the final 10 minutes of the game and held off a two-woman down penalty to secure the victory. 

It was another balanced attack day with seven different goalscorers. Avery Burke and Chloe Parker each tallied four goals and two assists. Caroline Kardian tallied three goals and pulled in her 100th draw control for the season. Sierra Anderson scored twice and Anna Erskine added a tally. 

The seniors also gave a strong performance on Senior Day. Emily Bruner added eight points on the day from three goals and five helpers and crossed the 100 point threshold on the season. Carina Wesker notched a hat trick and dished out three assists. Grace Williams was a catalyst in securing second-chance opportunities with her three groundballs. 

The Rhodes defense locked down the day, doubling up Berry on groundballs 30-15 and causing 18 turnovers to Berry's eight. Bari Pinkett scooped up a team high five ground balls and caused four turnovers. Emma Norris picked up four ground balls and added three caused turnovers. Senior Emma Bradley recorded seven saves on the day. 

The Lynx will finish the regular season on Monday when they travel to Birmingham-Southern College to play a non-conference matchup at 6:00pm CST.

The SAA tournament will begin on Friday, April 21 where Rhodes will host Oglethorpe University and Centre College. Rhodes will take on the winner of that matchup on Sunday, April 23 at Noon CST.