BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater women's lacrosse put on a dominant showing on home turf against Southern Virginia, powering through to an 18-4 win Wednesday. 

The Basics 

Score: Bridgewater (BCE) 18, Southern Virginia (SVU) 4 

Records: BCE (4-2), SVU (3-4) 

How It Happened 

• The Eagles jumped out of the gate with an aggressive attack in a shorthanded matchup between the Knights. The offensive control remained in BCE's favor to keep the Knights away from threatening on any scoring run throughout the game. The Eagles dominated on the opening draw control and never looked back. 

• BCE took advantage of the caused turnover and pressured the defense earning a man-up advantage from a green card penalty. Grace Pietro sliced through the defense off the slick feed by Paige Mayers to open the scoring. Seconds later, the Eagles answered again by a solo drive from Mayers as Mayers winded back and slid the shot past the goalie. A foul in BCE's crease allowed SVU to get a free position attempt for the Knights' conversion. The Eagles returned with an aggressive attack off the clear to glide into the crease and to earn their own free position attempt with four minutes to go. Mayers with ease lasered the shot finding a sliver of open net in the bottom corner for the third goal of the first quarter. Yet again, Mayers went for a solo drive to the opposing crease and found open net for the fourth goal to end the first quarter at 4-1. 

• In the second quarter, the Eagles continued their dominant scoring surge with an additional seven unanswered points. Mayers got two more goals off SVU while Taylor Price, Jenna Entsminger, Madelaine Godat, and Kena Gresham each contributed to mark a total of seven goals while Godat took advantage of the extra woman on field from a yellow card. The Eagles entered the second half with an enormous 11-1 lead. 

• Five more unanswered goals came from BCE's side in the third quarter with three in a span of five minutes. More struggled offensive possessions by SVU eased the BCE defense. The Knights would get one to go off a free position attempt that converted successfully making the score 16-2 Eagles.  

• The Eagles continued to apply enough pressure for the offense to counter and roam freely in the opposition's own third. Another free position goal for the Knights opened the fourth quarter, but BCE quickly responded with a solo drive by Olivia Lawrence to knock in goal number 17 on the day. Mayers rounded out the offensive onslaught while the Knights wrapped up the action for the fourth goal to close out the game, 18-4. 

Game Notes 

• Paige Mayers tallied a career-high seven goals, tied for seventh-most goals scored in a game since 2022. Mayers also marked the third-most draw controls in a single game with 11, tying Lauren Roberts back in 2023. Along with that, Mayers also posted four assists, four caused turnovers, and six ground balls. 

• Bridgewater sharpened its defense against the Knights leading to 23 turnovers by SVU while picking up 17 ground balls and 15 draw controls limiting the Knights to 15 shots. The Eagles had a double-digit shot total (12) in the second quarter while totaling 32 shots. 

• Kena Gresham posted a career-high four assists, tying for eighth-most assists in a single game in program history.  

• Grace Pietro and Jenna Entsminger contributed on the offensive end both racking up hat tricks (first of the season for Pietro, fourth of the season for Entsminger).  

• Taylor Price scored her first career goal while also dishing out her first career assist. 

Up Next 

The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, March 12 against Ferrum in ODAC play.