Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Following a scoreless first half of action, Mary Washington (3-0) scored three second half-goals and held the Bridgewater Eagles field hockey team in check over the final 35 minutes as Bridgewater fell by a 3-0 tally in a non-conference road matchup.
After a feeling-out period to open the game, Mary Washington had the first crack at breaking the early deadlock with three shots, but junior goalkeeper Jessica Balsano was up to the task, turning away all three Mary Washington scoring attempts to keep the game scoreless through 21 minutes of play.
Things remained relatively even throughout the remainder of the first half as the Eagles (0-2) ripped off three shots down the stretch of the opening stanza but couldn't find the back of the net as the game stayed tied at a 0-0 score at the intermission.
Mary Washington owned an 8-3 advantage in shots in the first half to go along with a slight 3-2 edge in corners.
Both teams opened the second half with quick shots before Mary Washington capped off a barrage of shots with a goal at the 47:57 mark. Mary Washington got on the board when Lisa Charney put a shot past Balsano on a penalty stroke to give the host Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
Following the goal, Mary Washington continued peppering the Bridgewater goal and after hitting the post with a shot, added an insurance goal in the 55th minute when Jenna Steele found the back of the cage to build a 2-0 lead.
Mary Washington added their third goal of the game with less than five minutes to play on a shot from Amy Abernathy to finalize the scoring at a 3-0 tally.
The host Eagles outshot Bridgewater by a 19-2 margin in a one-sided second half to own a 27-6 advantage in shots.
Bridgewater was paced offensively by two-shot efforts from freshmen Alenka Ferrufino and Ashley White. Jenna Steele led the way for Mary Washington with a goal and six shots.
Balsano was solid in the cage, turning away 16 shots in the loss. Claire Gianelle picked up the win for Mary Washington in the net, making three saves in 35 minutes of action.
Bridgewater is back in action on Saturday at the Frostburg State Tournament against Bethany (W.Va). Start time is set for 2 p.m.
