Bridgewater, Va. – The first week of fall sports was highlighted by a full day of home competitions on Saturday, Sep. 4, where seven different Bridgewater College athletics teams were in action.

Field Hockey

Field Hockey had one of their toughest weeks in program history as they played two nationally ranked opponents in the span of four days. 

The Eagles opened their fall season with a trip to No. 14 Christopher Newport on Wednesday, Sep. 1. The Eagles struggled offensively only notching one shot on goal in the 8-0 loss. 

The Eagles went back to work on Saturday, Sep. 4, as they welcomed No. 3 Johns Hopkins to Bridgewater. The Eagles failed to put a shot on goal, but had plenty of opportunities against the Blue Jays in the 6-0 loss. 

A highlight for the game was the battle in the trenches by the BC defense as Junior Kelli Mullen made an impressive defensive save in the third quarter. 

Super senior goalie Brooke Hamm, has also been a highlight for the Eagles through the first week as she has a save percentage of .632.

Volleyball

The Eagles volleyball team opened up the season with a 3-0 start. The Eagles only dropped one set throughout the weekend as they hosted the Route 42 Classic.

Bridgewater picked up a 3-1 victory over Salem College on Friday night to get the season started. The Eagles then went back to work with a double header on Saturday, sweeping both Eastern Mennonite University and Marymount University 3-0.

Statistically, BC senior Hope Jennings currently leads the team with 27 kills through the first week. Junior Grace Hayes has started right where she left off last season — as the Boone, North Carolina native already has 85 assists through three matches for the Eagles. 

Football

The Bridgewater football team made their long awaited return to a packed Jopson Athletic Complex on Saturday, Sep. 4, as the Eagles picked up a 31-7 victory over Gettysburg.

The Eagles had to attack through the air after a sluggish first half offensively. Senior Matt Lawton threw for 264 yards in the win. Sophomore Freddie Watkins led the Eagles in receiving yards with 84 and a touchdown.

Men’s Soccer

The Men’s soccer program opened the 2021 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 4, as they traveled to Lebanon Valley College. 

The Eagles drew first blood with a Luke Stubbs goal in the 14th minute, but that would be all the Eagles would get offensively as Lebanon Valley scored four unanswered to take the 4-1 victory.

Women’s Soccer

The defending ODAC champions opened their season with a neutral site matchup against Illinois Wesleyan in Lexington, VA  as part of a tournament being conducted by Washington and Lee on Saturday, Sep. 4.

Bridgewater struck first in the first half as senior Hannah Randolph fed a pass to sophomore Alicia Keo, who fired and scored to put the Eagles on top 1-0 — which would prove to be all BC needed. The Eagles held on thanks to a Sydney Davis shutout between the pipes by the senior.

Women’s Tennis

The women’s tennis team opened their fall campaign with a solid showing at the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday Sept. 5.

Super senior Rachel Crawford, junior Kaci Pitsenbarger, and first-year Grace Knighton all went 4-0 on the day for the Eagles. Sophomore Ryan Roeber also added a 3-0 day for the Eagles,  including a split championship at the 5th flight singles with sophomore teammate Emma Nesselrodt.