BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- After a late
Shenandoah goal sent the game to overtime, junior Taylor
Prillaman centered the ball near the Hornets cage and the
ball caromed off of a Shenandoah defender and into the back of the
net to send the Bridgewater Eagles field hockey team to the Old
Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship game behind a 2-1
overtime victory over visiting Shenandoah.
The semifinal victory for the Eagles is the first in program
history and sends Bridgewater to its first ODAC championship game
and extends the team's winning streak to six games. The victory
also was Bridgewater's fifth in a row over the Hornets.
Bridgewater (12-7) controlled the opening half of play and owned a
10-0 shots advantage at the intermission but the Eagles couldn't
get on the scoreboard in the opening 35 minutes as the game
remained at a scoreless deadlock at the half.
The Eagles fired six shots on frame over the first 35 minutes, but
Shenandoah netminder Jenna Rampale was up to the task, keeping the
game scoreless.
Shenandoah (12-7) came out of the halftime break and shifted play
to the offensive attack end in a hurry. The Hornets fired a pair of
shots before Bridgewater switched the field and tallied the
go-ahead goal. Bridgewater earned a penalty corner in the
46th minute and freshman Elizabeth
Washington fired a shot on frame but the scoring chance
was deflected away by Rampale. Prillaman was there for the rebound
and stuck a shot inside the far post to build a 1-0 Bridgewater
lead at the 46:03 mark of the contest.
Following the goal, Shenandoah went back on the attack. The
Hornets ripped three shots at freshman Amanda
Harperbut Harper turned away each opportunity prior to
Bridgewater going back to the offensive end.
Bridgewater looked to add an insurance goal in the waning minutes
of regulation, but Rampale made three key saves down the stretch to
hold the Bridgewater lead at a 1-0 tally.
Prillaman picked up a yellow card with two and change to play in
the second half and the Hornets capitalized on the opportunity in
the final seconds of regulation. The Eagles couldn't clear the ball
out of the defensive end and Shenandoah took advantage when Presha
Merritt found Bailey and she found the back of the net to send the
game to overtime at a 1-1 deadlock.
Bridgewater overcame an early man-down situation in overtime as
Prillaman served out the remainder of her yellow card penalty.
The Hornets fired an early shot on frame but Bailey's scoring
attempt sailed high to keep the game tied.
Bridgewater switched the field and sophomore Shannon
Strosser chipped the ball up field and pushed a pass to a
wide-open Prillaman. Prillaman moved the ball past one swarming
defender before centering the ball towards the cage. A Shenandoah
defender moved in and attempted to clear the ball off of the line
but instead pushed the ball into the net, sending Bridgewater to
Saturday's championship game with a 2-1 win. The goal for Prillaman
was her 15th of the season.
Prillaman's two-goal outing led the way for the Eagles as
Bridgewater outshot Shenandoah by an 18-11 margin. The Magnolia,
Delaware native led all players with seven shots on the evening.
Prillaman's 15 goals matches her 15 goals scored in 2012 with both
marks being the most for a Bridgewater player since Holly Ware's
16-goal season in 1999.
Harper secured her 10th win of the season, tying
the freshman record for victories. The Virginia Beach, Virginia
native posted four saves on the evening.
Bailey led the Hornets with five shots and Rampale picked up the
loss despite making 10 saves on the evening.
Bridgewater is back in action on Saturday at top-seeded Lynchburg
College. Game time has yet to be determined.
--- This release is
courtesy of the Bridgewater College sports information department.
---
www.bridgewatereagles.com