Lady Eagles Lose in Overtime

Women’s Lacrosse Loses Close Game Against Marlins

Patrick Garber, Staff Writer

Bridgewater, Va.- The Bridgewater College women’s lacrosse team lost in heartbreak fashion against Virginia Wesleyan after the game was tied at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The Marlins took home the victory after scoring in overtime.

The two teams played defense excellently all game as Bridgewater’s sophomore goalkeeper, Mikaela Brooks, and Virginia Wesleyan’s sophomore goalkeeper, Jordan Moilanen, both came up with 13 saves during the match. Bridgewater’s defense forced three shot clock violations in the second half but also had 10 failed clearances which lead to four eight-meter goals scored by the Marlins.

Virginia Wesleyan would consider themselves lucky to leave this game with a win after playing the final four minutes of the game shorthanded on players after two Marlins received yellow cards late on in the second half. Virginia Wesleyan’s freshman attacker, Alyssa Bernal, won the game for the Marlins after she scored a free position goal on the only possession of overtime.

The Marlins got out to an early lead in the game after scoring the first two goals of the match when Moilanen picked up loose balls and started counterattacks.

Bridgewater senior midfielder, Sarah Yashinskie, got the Eagles on the board after scoring through the legs of Moilanen. While trailing 3-2, Brooks saved a free position shot from freshman midfielder, Mikayla Callahan, which resulted in a counterattack for the Eagles. Junior attacker, Shannon Rogers, scored off her own rebound leveling the score at 3-3.

Back and forth goals near the end of the half had the game tied at 4-4 and 5-5. Bridgewater secured their first lead of the game when they had a two player advantage. The Marlins, already on a yellow card, had their players continually shifting and eventually drawing an additional green card. 

Junior attacker Dwyer Neal ended up scoring the goal while they were a man up and made it 5-4 to the Eagles.

Bridgewater took one goal leads twice early on in the second half before the Marlins tied it up 6-6 and eventually 7-7. 

Junior attacker, Jacqueline DiFulvio opened the scoring in the second half when she caught the Marlins sleeping on a restart and fed senior attacker, Anna O’Hara who scored. The Marlins tied it up when Manahan’s errant pass bounced through a bunch of players and then eventually Brooks in the net.

Freshman midfielder Emily Jencks scored her second collegiate goal and it was a huge one for the Eagles, as it tied the game up at 9-9 with five minutes remaining. Jencks’ goal sent the game to overtime before the Eagles ended up losing after the first possession.

With the loss, Bridgewater fell to 2-8 and 1-1 in ODAC play for the season.