Box Score
BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College field hockey team scored three times in the second half for a 4-1 season opening win vs. Sweet Briar.
It was Senior Day for four Eagles, including goalscorers Courtney Cooke (who tallied twice) and Karinne Moyer, along with defender Kelsey Hicks. Senior Emmeline Mejia was playing her first collegiate game.
Defender Allison Thompson added a goal and an assist for Bridgewater. Goalie Brooke Hamm made five saves.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the game. Mayra Mejia-Guardado slid a rebound from the left side to Cooke for the tap-in and a 1-0 lead.
Bridgewater continued to control the first quarter as Cooke nearly had another open net opportunity but couldn't quite get to a pass from Moyer. Hamm made a sliding save to deny Alexis Jones as the Vixens countered once in the opening period.
Sweet Briar was on the offensive in the second quarter, forcing three more Hamm saves and evening things up on a one-touch goal by Brigitte Gorman from the outside part of the circle.
Moyer put Bridgewater back in front in the third quarter off a nice Thompson pass lifted over the Vixen defense. Both Moyer and Caroline Quigley had good opportunities right afterwards to nearly add to the lead.
The Eagles would make it 3-1 with 5:41 remaining as Moyer was tripped up on a break and Cooke converted the penalty stroke.
In a wild final few minutes, Thompson made it 4-1 off a penalty corner, and the Vixens hit the post, forced a defensive save on the goalline by Meredyth Rankin and finally had a penalty stroke denied by Hamm.
Bridgewater (1-0, 1-0 ODAC) will travel to Lynchburg next Friday evening.