BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College field hockey team struck early and led the entire way in a 2-0 home victory over St. Mary's (Md.) on Sunday.

Elizabeth Washington and Jacqueline DiFulvio scored for the Eagles, who got nine saves from rookie goalie Ali Bishop to keep the shutout.

The Eagles took a quick lead after a great start to the contest. Alyssa Thompson made a kick save on Tessa Tierson following a cross by Madison Clement. On the ensuing penalty corner Clement slid a pass over to Washington, who put the Eagles on the board in just the second minute of play.

The Eagles broke late in the first half and Tierson put a perfect cross to freshman DiFulvio, who tapped it in for a 2-0 lead.

Marisa Sims had a chance to make it 2-0 midway through the first half but St. Mary's defender Megan Moore swept the shot away off the goal line.

Bishop made key stops in succession in the opening half, with the Eagles then surviving the penalty corner on both occasions.

The rookie blocked two attempts by Brady Wolf to jam the ball in, and Carly Todd slid a shot just wide from Wolf's pass on the penalty corner that followed.

A minute later, Bishop made a great save at the doorstep to deny Kevyn Jorgenson. The Seahawks earned a corner, and Shannon Strosser came up with a defensive save for Bridgewater.

Freshman Emily Matisons had a shot deflected just wide off a corner early in the second half. The Eagles later had a 3-on-2 but Alli Szymanski managed to take the ball off Matisons' stick and clear it without committing a foul.

The BC defense kept St. Mary's from creating any great chances for most of the final period. Bishop was finally forced into a kick save on a corner with just over four minutes remaining, and made two more late stops to preserve the shutout.

Bridgewater improves to 2-2 on the season and faces a tough home test on Tuesday vs. #12 Mary Washington. St. Mary's, who was beaten 3-1 by Washington & Lee last night, is 1-4.