BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College women's lacrosse team suffered a heart-breaking home defeat on Tuesday, losing 10-8 in overtime to Virginia Wesleyan.

Bridgewater let a 5-0 lead slip away but still recovered to take the lead and possession in the final seconds, only to turn it over and allow the tying goal with 00:10 remaining on the clock.

Jesse Colligan had scored twice in a row midway through the second half to make it 8-6, and the Eagles successfully stalled until late in the game. Goalie Rachel Gruber (11 saves) made a big stop on Carla Williams to keep the lead at 8-7 after Virginia Wesleyan had pulled one back.

With Bridgewater trying to run the clock or go in for the icing goal, VWC defender Kelly Jacobson came up with two game-saving caused turnovers in the final minutes. The visitors gave it back on both occasions and BC nearly escaped before Amari Agee stripped an Eagle and the Marlins broke the other way for Candace Carey's tying goal with 10 seconds remaining.

Williams struck first in overtime, and Taylor Simon added another in the second extra period to clinch the decision.

Caroline Fletcher had six draw controls as the Eagles won 14-of-22 draws in the contest. Caroline Augsburger caused two turnovers and picked up six ground balls.

Offensively, Meredith Wimbrow and Colligan scored twice each while Claire Palermo-Re had a goal and two assists.

The Eagles held Virginia Wesleyan without a goal for the opening 27:22 of the game. Carey hit the post in the early going, and Paige Hennessy later caused a turnover on a dangerous drive with Gruber picking up the ground ball.

Palermo-Re found Wimbrow right in front of goal to open the scoring at 25:17 of the first half. Hennessy made it 2-0 less than a minute later with a nice spin move past her defender.

The Eagles had four possessions to go up 3-0 but struggled to open up their lead. VWC goalie Madison Carroll made a great low foot save on Colligan, with Gruber stoning Williams at the other end.

BC finally broke through again with 13:30 left in the first half. Carroll saved Palermo-Re's free position shot and raced out of her crease for the ground ball. Under pressure from Hennessy, her clearing pass was picked off by Annie Sullivan and the sophomore finished off into the open cage for a 3-0 lead.

The Eagles pushed their lead to 5-0 as Fletcher found Wimbrow with a nice pass late in the first half.

Wesleyan finally got on the scoreboard with two quick strikes in a span of 13 seconds late in the opening period.

The Marlins would push their run their six goals, taking a lead with four straight in the second half. Bridgewater apparently had a momentum-stopping goal from Wimbrow but the play was called off for a crease violation.

The Bridgewater attack was then called for three fouls off the ball during the 6-0 Virginia Wesleyan run. Jenna Devilbiss finally broke the slump to tie things up at 6-6, and the Eagles went ahead after Williams hit the post midway through the second half.

The loss puts Bridgewater (5-7, 2-4 ODAC) in a major hole in the conference standings, as the Eagles were seconds away from moving into the sixth and final playoff spot. Instead, Virginia Wesleyan improves to 8-5, 4-3 and moves a game and a half ahead of the Eagles.

The Eagles continue a three-game homestand on Saturday (vs. Hollins) and April 15 (vs. Shenandoah).