BC Sports Recap 2/28

BC+basketball+team

Evan Maxey

The Bridgewater College men’s basketball teams closed out their season with a loss against the Roanoke Maroons.

Leyton Pullin, Staff Writer

Bridgewater, Va. – For the first time this year, the Eagles saw action across four sports. Men’s basketball played their first games since being shut down due to COVID-19 protocol, men’s golf opened their season in Georgia, women’s soccer played their first game in over a year and football started their ODAC title defense. 

Men’s Golf

The Eagles opened the week with success on the course as senior Jacob Laughlin led the men’s golf team to win the Olgethorpe Invitational at Royal Lakes in Flowery Branch, Georgia — finishing an even par (216). Laughlin was able to snatch his first career individual win in the three round, two-day event. 

Sophomore Jacob Sears also had some early season success as he finished second to Laughlin in the overall standings at +6(222) after shooting a -2(70), which tied his career best. Sears also shot two eagles in the tournament, which put him tied for the most in the event. 

The third highest finisher at the event for the Eagles was freshman Jake Girouard, who finished for No.15 — making him also the highest finishing newcomer for the Eagles. 

The men’s golf team will be back in action on March 8 and 9 as they travel to Lynchburg for the Hill City Invitational.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team hit the court for the first time in two weeks as they traveled to take on No. 1 in the D3Hoops.com poll Randolph Macon on Wednesday. 

The Eagles started the game slow, trailing early 29-9. From that point forward, the Yellow Jackets would not look back, as they shot 55.2% (37/67) from the field and 12/25 from long range to defeat the shorthanded Eagles 99-68.

Freshman guard Zach Hatter led the Eagles with 25 points as one of the three reserves who traveled. With only eight players, it was difficult for BC to keep up with the undefeated Yellow Jackets.

The men’s basketball team hit the court for the second time in a week as they got handed their second loss in as many games, when they fell 84-41 to Roanoke. 

Only ten players traveled with the team due to COVID-19 tests within the program. They now await the pairing for the ODAC tournament which will be announced on Monday, March 1, as they finish the regular season at 2-5 in ODAC play.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer team played their first home game of the season as they took on Southern Virginia University on Thursday. First-year midfielder Destiny Zapata opened the scoring for BC with two goals in the first 15 minutes of the match to put the Eagles out in front 2-0. 

In the closing seconds of the first half, BC would extend their lead once more as junior defender Angel Finch put a shot into the back of the net to make it 3-0 at the break. 

Freshman forward Skyler Daum would go bar down and in for the Eagles, and freshman defender Maddie Serttas would head one in to finish the game with a final score of 5-2 for BC. Junior midfielder Hannah Randolph, senior defender Cyan Coates and Serttas would also add an assist each during the win. 

The Eagles advance to 2-0 on the season and will travel up Route 42 for a rivalry matchup with Eastern Mennonite on Sunday at 3 P.M.

Football

The football team opened their season the same way they ended ODAC play a year ago, with a win over Shenandoah 27-21. 

Sophomore wide receiver Derrick Jenkins led the Eagles with two receiving touchdowns. Senior running back Demetreus Jalepes rushed for 95 yards on 21 touches. 

The Eagles used a two quarterback system with senior Matt Lawton and junior Noah Beckley. Lawton passed for two touchdowns and 133 yards. Beckley brought a bigger threat on the ground as he carried the ball eight times for 55 yards. 

Junior linebacker Brett Tharp secured the game within the final minute on an interception for the Eagles. 

BC will travel to Randolph-Macon in a rematch of last year’s ODAC Championship game on Friday, March 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.