CARLISLE, Pa. - In the 2011 season opener for the Bridgewater Eagles field hockey squad, junior Kelly Ryan (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) scored with under seven minutes to play, but the Eagles couldn't overcome a pair of early Dickinson College goals to fall in the opener by a 2-1 score.

The two teams traded opportunities early on as Ryan looked to score under three minutes into the contest, but her shot was deflected before a Dickinson shot was turned away by the Eagles defense a few minutes later.

Dickinson rolled up back-to-back corners in the early going before Celeste Pilato capitalized on the opportunity to put the Red Raiders ahead 1-0 early, under 10 minutes in.

Less than a minute later, Pilato notched her second goal of the game to give Dickinson a 2-0 lead.

Dickinson kept the pressure on, but senior goalkeeper Taylor Waddell (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley) was superb, keeping the game at a two-goal deficit midway through the opening stanza.

The Eagles peppered Dickinson keeper Katy Schlechtweg at the tail end of the first half but couldn't find the back of the cage as the game went to the break at a 2-0 Red Raiders advantage.

Out of the intermission both teams traded opportunities but were held off of the scoreboard as the offensive melee began.

Following a three-shot barrage from the Red Raiders, the Eagles finally got on the scoreboard with under seven minutes to play when Ryan scored unassisted to cut the Dickinson lead in half at a 2-1 tally.

Bridgewater's offense ratcheted up the intensity over the final six and half minutes and came close to netting the equalizer when a shot from the stick of sophomore Katie Nuckols glanced off of the post, but it was too little, too late as the Eagles fell by a 2-1 tally.

Sophomore Colleen Dickson (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) led the way for the Eagles offense with five shots on the afternoon, while Ryan chipped in four, including a goal. On the offensive end, the Eagles were outshot by a slim 18-to-16 gap, and were dead even with the Red Raiders in shots in the second half with a dozen each.

In the cage, Waddell posted the loss recording nine saves along the way. Schlechtweg picked up the victory for Dickinson, notching four saves in the process.

Bridgewater is back in action on Saturday when it travels to central Pennsylvania for a clash with Juniata College. Action from Huntingdon is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.