BRIDGEWATER, Va. - With less than seven minutes left in regulation, the Bridgewater Eagles (4-3, 0-2 ODAC) field hockey team found itself in a 4-1 hole agains cross-town rival Eastern Mennonite (3-5, 2-0 ODAC). The Eagles rallied for two goals late, but came up short  as the squad fell 4-3 to the Royals at Mapp Field.

Eastern Mennonite got on the board first less than five minutes in when Alyssa Derstine netted her first of two goals on the day, to put the Royals ahead 1-0.

BC wouldn't be behind for long as Christina Pybus netted the equalizer at the 7:55 mark to knot the score at 1-1.

EMU would then tally the final two goals of the first half off of unassisted shots from Linda Cimini and Jessica Blanks to take a 3-1 lead into the locker room.

Fifteen minutes into the second stanza Derstine put her second goal of the game in the cage to put the Royals ahead 4-1, as it looked like EMU was going to run away with the game.

At the 63:21 mark, BC started its rally when a Pybus shot went between the EMU keeper's legs and trickled into the goal to bridge the gap at 4-2.

Four and a half minutes later, Leah Cossentino took a pass from Pybus and put it in the back of the cage to bring Bridgewater to within one at a 4-3 tally.

Time would expire on the Eagles comeback bid though, as the squad eventually fell by a 4-3 score.

In the cage, the Eagles split time with sophomore Taylor Waddell (1-2) getting the start. Waddell allowed three goals in the first half before being replaced at the break by senior Elizabeth Sullivan. Sullivan allowed the lone second half goal and recorded three saves.

For EMU, Becky Holt recorded the victory, allowing three goals while picking up four saves.

Bridgewater is back in action on Friday when the Eagles take on Wilson with the game being slated for a 4:30 p.m. start at Mapp Field.