Bridgewater, Va. – Bridgewater College has released schedules for the 2021 athletic season.

After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed all ODAC athletic competition for the fall semester, the Eagles have their dates set for the upcoming season. Due to the delay, all seasons will be taking place in the spring semester, even those that would not usually occur at this time of year. 

Last week, ODAC reiterated its prohibition on spectators for indoor sports, including basketball, indoor track and field, swimming and volleyball. Athletic Director Curt Kendall said the events will be available via livestream. 

There is still no decision on whether attendance at outdoor competitions will be permitted.

The defending ODAC champion BC football team will begin play on March 5 at Randolph Macon at 7 p.m. Women’s volleyball will play a doubleheader against Washington & Lee and Ferrum on March 13 at W&L, starting at 11 a.m. Field hockey will host Sweet Briar on March 5 at 7 p.m. 

Women’s basketball will tip-off on Jan. 21 at home against Mid Atlantic Christian at 5 p.m. The men’s basketball team begins at home against Averett on Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Baseball will host Christopher Newport on March 10 at 3 p.m. for opening day. Softball will begin with a home double header against Mary Baldwin on March 23 at 3 p.m.

Women’s soccer will kick off at Virginia Wesleyan on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m., while the men’s soccer team will begin at Roanoke at 1 p.m. the same day.

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will kick off on Feb. 7 at the Shenandoah Invitational in Kernstown, VA. Men’s and women’s track and field will begin on Jan. 29 at the Virginia Military Institute Invitational.

Men’s golf will begin at the Oglethorpe Invitational on Feb. 22 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Women’s golf will start on March 8 at the Hill City Invitational in Lynchburg, VA. 

Women’s lacrosse will host Southern Virginia on March 20 at 4 p.m., while men’s lacrosse begins at home against Roanoke on March 13 at 1 p.m.

Both men’s and women’s swimming begins on Jan. 30 at Virginia Wesleyan at 1 p.m.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams will kick off at the WildCat Invitational at Randolph College — with the women beginning on Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. and the men beginning on Feb. 14 at 9 a.m.

The equestrian team, following many adjustments to the program in the fall, has not yet released a schedule for the 2021 season or even indicated if they will compete or not.

After not having any games since March 12, 2020, BC athletes are eager to take the field again. Sophomore football player Kyle Starret previously told BC Voice “it just feels good knowing game days are just around the corner.”