WINCHESTER, Va. – The Bridgewater College women's lacrosse team held off Shenandoah 8-6 in Winchester, Va. on Wednesday night, clinching the Eagles' first ODAC playoff berth since 2004.

The Eagles were the #8 seed in 2004 but had not qualified for the ODAC tournament since the conference went to a six-team postseason format the next year.

With All-State goalie Rachel Gruber and freshman Annie Bashara both out injured for Bridgewater's biggest game of the year, junior midfielder Brittney Brown won her second straight decision with seven crucial saves in the cage.

After some early turnover trouble, the Eagles controlled the game the rest of the way, being successful on 16-of-18 clears, holding a 10-6 lead in draw controls, and stalling successfully on several occasions throughout the contest.

Seniors Caroline Fletcher and Jenna Devilbiss scored twice each and combined for seven draw controls, with defender Kayla O'Sullivan adding five ground balls.

With Bridgewater trailing 1-0 early, Shenandoah failed on three straight clears but the Eagles committed three turnovers on the attack along with a partially-deflected shot. After two more Eagle turnovers Abby Zorilla hit the bar and then bounced a shot over the net.

After Brown held the ball for several minutes on a clear, allowing the Eagles to settle down, BC went in transition and Sarah Yashinskie found Annie Sullivan to get the Eagles on the board. Fletcher won the next draw and Devilbiss scored from outside to give Bridgewater the lead.

Brown made a good free position save midway through the opening period. Fletcher hit the post on an eight meter at the other end, but Devilbiss would eventually score at the end of a long Bridgewater possession to make it 3-1.

The Eagles grabbed a halftime lead despite hitting the post three times. Fletcher was unlucky on two occasions, hitting the pipe later in the first half after O'Sullivan found her open behind the defense. Anna O'Hara would hit the post soon after on another transition opportunity.

After another long stall by Brown in the second half, Erica Blubaugh went the length of the field on the clear and scored to make it 4-2.

Shenandoah goalie Rachel Levy made two big free position saves on Devilbiss and Sullivan, and Yashinskie hit the crossbar, but Fletcher finally converted on an eight-meter chance with 12:20 left to give the Eagles some more breathing room.

With Shenandoah starting to double-team, Yashinskie drove for another goal with 10:54 on the clock, and Claire Palermo-Re made it 7-2 with 7:15 remaining in the contest.

Bridgewater improves to 9-7, 4-4 ODAC and will wrap up the regular season at home on Saturday vs. Randolph-Macon, before traveling to third-seeded Lynchburg next week in the ODAC quarterfinals.