LEXINGTON, Va. --- Third time is a charm for Bridgewater College women's soccer!

The Eagles captured their first ODAC women's soccer title in their third appearance in an ODAC championship game on Sunday afternoon in Lexington. Collecting the league hardware did not come easy as second-seeded Bridgewater and top-seeded Washington and Lee University went to penalty kicks to determine the 2020-21 conference champion following 110 minutes of scoreless play thru regulation and two overtime periods.

Bridgewater (11-1) made each of its first four penalty kicks thanks to scoring efforts from Emily York, Hanna Randolph, Skyler Daum, and Lindsey Winkels. Washington and Lee saw two of its efforts go off either post, resulting in a 4-2 shoot-off result for the Eagles.

The Eagles previous championship opportunities came in 2012 and 2017 as they finished as runner-up to Lynchburg on both occasions. The Hornets posted a 2-0 win in 2012 and 1-0 overtime time decision five years later.

The best opportunites in regulation for both teams came in the second half, including two notable chances that featured each squad. The first involved an outstanding effort by Bridgewater keeper Sydney Davis. W&L midfielder Erin Hoeh sent a solid shot to Davis's right, with the Eagles' keeper diving low to push the strike around the post with a right hand in the 60th minute.

Bridgewater nearly took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Generals 10 minutes later. Makayla Zanders was in a race with a W&L defender for a 50-50 ball near the top of the Generals penalty box. Zanders picked the pocket of the W&L player who arrived first, but the BC striker's resulting shot went wide around the near corner and caught the right outside netting.

Skyler Daum nearly gave Bridgewater the winner in the 95th minute. After cutting in from the right-wing, her left-footed curler from a tight angle just outside the box skipped off the crossbar.

Both teams pressed into each other's defensive third in the second extra frame, but goal threatening opportunities were at a premium before the final whistle.

Both keepers were strong in front of goal. W&L's Grace Coombs and BC's Davis each notched five stops on the afternoon.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Carrington Lippi, Roanoke College
Lucy Perry, Roanoke College
Kennedi Anders, Virginia Wesleyan University
Sam Crawford, Virginia Wesleyan University
Caitlin Barnes, Washington and Lee University
Erin Hoeh, Washington and Lee University
Chloe Rapier, Washington and Lee University
Sydney Davis, Bridgewater College
Maren Dougherty, Bridgewater College
Hanna Randolph, Bridgewater College
Emily York, Bridgewater College