Bridgewater, Va. – Before the game against Roanoke College on Tues. March 16, junior defender Claire Ashley said that the field hockey team prepared for the game by “being able to figure out how to capitalize on our strengths instead of focusing on the negatives.” 

Prior to the Roanoke game, the field hockey team focused on attacking and defensive principles during their practice. 

After four minutes of play, Roanoke senior midfielder Emillee Wooten took the first shot of the game, but it was saved by Bridgewater junior goalie Brooke Hamm. Wootsen was able to collect the rebound and shoot once again but Hamm made another save, which led to the first penalty corner of the night. 

BC senior defender Kelsey Hicks was awarded the only green card of the game with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter. 

At the end of the first quarter, Hamm completed ten saves for a first quarter shutout. With four minutes remaining in the second quarter, Roanoke junior midfielder Claudia Roncone scored the first goal of the night for the Maroons off a penalty corner. Hamm finished the half with fifteen saves.

With a little over nine minutes remaining in the fourth corner, BC junior midfielder Caroline Quigley scored the first goal for the Eagles during a penalty corner. The Eagles defense continuously denied the Maroons another goal, with only four shots on goal in the final quarter.

The Eagles and Maroons held each other to a 1-1 tie at the end of the game regulation time. However, after five minutes and 26 seconds in overtime, Quigley scored the second goal of the night after a rebounded penalty corner to claim the 2-1 victory. 

Although Roanoke held a 19-2 advantage in penalty corners and a 34-3 gap in shot attempts, the BC field hockey team overcame their disadvantage in substations and shots on goal by finding the back of the net when given the opportunity. 

Hamm and the Eagles defense combined for 24 saves with Quigley’s two goals, as the Eagles upset Roanoke in overtime.

“Following our game against Lynchburg, I think this game was very important to show that we have fight in us,” said Quigley. “We were hurting a lot after Friday’s game, but in those two practices before Roanoke, we worked so hard to fix our mistakes and work well as a team. We had that drive and motivation to come back from that 11-1 loss. We proved to others that we should not be underestimated.”

BC improved to 2-1 overall and in ODAC competition. The Eagles are tied for second place early in the 2020-21 season and will travel to Ferrum on Friday, March 19.