Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Midfielder Kelly Ryan put the Bridgewater Eagles (3-5, 1-2 ODAC) field hockey team on the board late in the first half and junior Jennifer Bateman tallied a late-game goal, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fell to crosstown rival Eastern Mennonite by a 5-2 score in action at Mapp Field.
Eastern Mennonite (5-4, 1-0 ODAC) wasted little time getting on the board when Adriana Santiago scored unassisted just 32 seconds into the game to put the Royals ahead 1-0.
Eleven minutes later, EMU's Michelle Zook netted a goal off of her own rebound to put the Royals up 2-0.
Bridgewater cut into the Eastern Mennonite lead in the 26th minute when Ryan scored off of a Bateman pass to bring the Royals advantage to 2-1.
Eastern Mennonite struck twice more in the waning minutes of the first half to put Bridgewater in a 4-1 halftime hole.
Both teams scored in an evenly played second half, with Bateman tallying the game's final score with under ten minutes to play, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fell by a 5-2 tally to the visiting Royals.
Eastern Mennonite outshot Bridgewater by a 17-8 tally and held a slight 6-to-5 edge in corners.
Royals keeper Mary Beth Danaher recorded four saves to pick up the win, while senior Taylor Waddell turned away three shots to pick up the loss. Waddell split time with sophomore Jessica Balsano in the cage with Balsano turning away two shots along the way.
Bridgewater's back in action on Saturday morning when Sweet Briar comes to town. Action from Mapp Field is slated for an 11:00 a.m. start.
