NEWBERRY - The Newberry Lady Indians lost, 2-1, to the Mars Hill Lions here Tuesday in the South Atlantic Conference opener for both teams.

The Mars Hill duo of Riley Dorsey and Jasmine Riley scored for the Lions (4-1-0, 1-0-0 SAC), with Riley earning the game-winner in the 86th minute.

Newberry (2-3-0, 0-1-0 SAC) seemed headed for the win early, thanks to the first career goal of sophomore defender Elizabeth Jones (Anchorage, Alaska).

After a Lady Indian cross was cleared to the center of the pitch by the Lion defense, Jones shot the ball low and to the left from about 25 yards out, just past the outstretched hands of Mars Hill goalkeeper Claudia Cala to put Newberry up, 1-0.

Cala kept Mars Hill in the game in the first half, making six saves in the opening stanza, including a diving stop in the 20th minute that robbed Brooke Tumblin (Florence, S.C.) of a goal.

With 20 minutes to play, momentum was still in Newberry's favor until Mars Hill's counterattack saw Amber Rasasack put in a low cross from the right side that found Dorsey. Newberry goalkeeper Danielle Beckerle (St. Louis, Mo.) rushed Dorsey's shot, but Dorsey put it away to tie the match.

The Lions earned the win on a similar counterattack in the 86th minute, with Riley speeding past the Lady Indian defense to score the game-winner in a one-on-one with Beckerle.

Junior Inga Woiwode (El Paso, Texas) almost sent the match into overtime with just under two minutes to play, but her point-blank shot was smothered by Cala to preserve the Lions' lead.

Newberry had the majority of the chances in the match however, getting off 25 shots to Mars Hill's 16, and forcing Cala into 11 saves. Beckerle recorded six saves.

Newberry's next match comes on Saturday, when the Lady Indians host Lincoln Memorial University as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. The Lady Indians kick off at 3 p.m., with the men's game to follow immediately afterwards.

Mars Hill starts a four-match homestand on Saturday, hosting Brevard College with a 2 p.m. kickoff.