Bridgewater, Va. – The Bridgewater College field hockey team scored six goals in a shutout victory over Ferrum College at the Jopson Athletic Complex last Tuesday night. 

The Eagles entered the contest looking to bounce back from two consecutive conference losses from nationally ranked opponents, Lynchburg and Washington & Lee.

“Our team has been working a lot at practice on being able to score under pressure, and it was all put together during the game against Ferrum,” said senior captain Claire Ashley

First quarter action was dominated by BC, who found themselves on the scoreboard in minute four of play. A turnover in Ferrum’s midfield was collected by Ashley who carried the ball towards the goal. The individual effort found BC in prime attack position. Ashley slotted a pass to first-year Emily Tyler in the middle of the shooting circle. Tyler’s shot rolled under a diving Ferrum goalkeeper, first-year Anna Corsey, and into the goal. 

Just minutes later, a penalty corner opportunity was awarded to the Eagles. First-year Erin Dameron put the ball into play and the Eagles passed around the shooting circle to first-year Daphne Daymude. Daymude took a long shot on target, which Dameron redirected past the goalkeeper for the team’s second tally of the night. 

Scoring continued into the second quarter as another penalty corner for the Eagles led to Dameron’s second goal of the evening. In a sequence nearly identical to her first goal, Dameron found herself at the left post deflecting another shot on target. The original attempt was saved by Corsey, but Dameron collected her own rebound and made no mistakes on the second chance.

Dameron completed her hat trick performance midway through the third quarter. Yet another penalty corner set the Eagles up for the fourth goal of the evening. A well worked sequence around the shooting circle found the ball in first-year Bekah Mercer’s possession. Mercer spotted Dameron unmarked on the far post and a well-placed diagonal pass carved the defense, leaving Dameron with a tap-in for her final tally of the night. 

Only a minute later were the Eagles able to find their next goal, this time senior Caroline Quigley adding her name to the scoresheet. Ashley stole the ball from Ferrum in the midfield, leading the team in a counterattack down the left side of the field. A pass centered play to Tyler, just in front of Corsey, but a swift intervention from the goalkeeper pushed the ball wide to a waiting Quigley — who tucked the ball just inside the right post. 

The last goal of the evening was scored by Tyler in the closing stages of the game. A restart following a Ferrum foul in the Eagles offensive half allowed Daymude to possess the ball in a strong attacking position. Daymude took a shot that was deflected up in the air for Tyler to knock down and into the goal. 

Defensively, senior goalkeeper Brooke Hamm made two saves in the match. Hamm recorded her fourth shutout performance of the season, and second in conference play.  

“For the rest of the season, we are looking forward to putting out onto the field what we have been practicing everyday. At the end of the season, if we play our absolute best and have fun while doing it then to me that is a win,” said Ashley.

Tuesday’s win returns the Eagles to .500 in ODAC play. The team rounds out their home schedule on Oct. 23 against cross-town rivals Eastern Mennonite.