Bridgewater, Va- The Bridgewater women’s soccer team were defeated by the Phoenixes of Swarthmore College on Sep. 3 by a score of 3-2 and won from being down against the Cardinals of Catholic University by a score of 5-3 on Sep. 6.
9-3-2023
Eagles lose in a close one against the Phoenixes
The Phoenixes wasted no time and got the game going as first year Lauren Lior scored only three minutes into the game, giving Swarthmore an early 1-0 lead in the match.
The Eagles did not back down after that. Just off of the kickoff, the Eagles were able to get three shots on goal in just over two minutes, but were not able to find the back of the net in any attempts.
The Phoenix capitalized on this opportunity and took the ball the length of the field. Junior Keren Maze was able to assist first year Ava Gizzie, who buried the shot into the opposite corner of the goal which gave the Phoenix’s a 2-0 lead.
Bridgewater continued to apply the pressure. They were all over Phoenixes’ half of the field, earning themselves a corner kick.
First year Katherine King’s corner kick ended in the far side goal, giving the Eagles a goal that cut the lead to only one, just eight minutes into the game.
As the first half went on, the Phoenixes kept up their offensive pressure, and were able to get off more shots on goal. Senior Carlee Gaboury came up big for the Eagles and was able to make some huge saves. The first half ended with the Phoenixes leading 2-1.
Bridgewater’s offense started to get things going in the second half. Senior Katelyn Seagraves launched a shot on goal, but was saved. Bridgewater continued to push forward and was awarded a free kick in the Phoenixes’ half. First year Laura Narby’s attempt was just wide, and the Eagles continued to keep up the pressure.
In the late part of the game with the clock winding down, sophomore Felisa Racinez intercepted a pass and started to make a run to the goal. Narby was then taken down just outside the box, resulting in a free-kick opportunity for Bridgewater. The ball ended up in the box, and senior Madeline Bohan was able to draw a foul to set up a penalty kick. Senior Alicia Keo took the penalty kick and buried it in the right side of the net, making the score 2-2.
The Phoenixes stayed together and kept on playing. They were able to get back to back corner kicks. On the second attempt, junior Karen Maze put a ball into the box that deflected off a Bridgewater defender and found its way back into the net. This gave the Phoenixes a 3-2 advantage with just over four minutes left to play, and they were able to hold on and win the game.
9-6-2023
Eagles pull off a comeback win against the Cardinals
The Cardinals got the match started off early with a shot off just under a minute into the game. They applied the pressure early and were able to score just over two minutes into the game by sophomore Peyton Coron. Just over a minute later, the Cardinals scored yet again coming off a cross from Coron that found junior Sara Placide making the score 2-0 just four minutes into the game.
The Cardinals kept up the pressure, but goalie Gaboury came up with a huge diving save to keep the score only 2-0. The Eagles first chance of the game came in the 13th minute as they won a free kick in the Cardinals half of the field. Just after the free kick and a failed clearance from the Cardinals, Narby took a shot from outside of the box that just barely went over the hands of the Cardinals keeper that made the score 2-1 with Cardinals leading 14 minutes into the game.
Only a couple minutes later, junior Katarina Bauer found senior Jordan Siok as she took a shot and buried it in the back of the net to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. The Eagles subbed on Bohan who immediately made a big impact as she dribbled in the box and drew a foul to give the Eagles a penalty kick. Alicia Keo then stepped up and buried it into the bottom left corner to cut the score 3-2.
The Eagles started to find success in the second half as Keo had another shot on goal but was denied. The Eagles tied the game as sophomore Lyric Birkley had a long throw into the box as Skyler Daum flicked it on to Narby as she got a head on it to find the back of the net to make the score 3-3.
From then on it was all Eagles, as they drew another penalty kick, but this time Keo’s attempt was saved and it gave the Eagles a corner. Keo then takes a corner and sends into the box as Birkley jumps up and heads it into the far corner to give the Eagles 4-3 lead. Only six minutes later Madison Ferrone took a free kick from midfield that she sent into the box, and Birkley was there again to get a head on it and score to give the Eagles a 5-3 lead.
The Cardinals had 3 more shots on goal in the last couple of minutes into the game, but Gaboury was there to deny them all, giving the Eagles their first home win by a score of 5-3.
The Eagles next contest is on Sat. September 23 versus Washington and Lee.
