VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Caitlin Mertens turned the scoreboard more than 99 minutes from the first whistle with the game's only goal in overtime to send second-seeded Lynchburg College past fourth-seeded Bridgewater College, 1-0, in the ODAC Women's Soccer Tournament championship game on Sunday in Virginia Beach. The victory marks an ODAC record 15th women's soccer crown for the Hornets. It's the seventh conference trophy they have lifted in the last eight years.

Lynchburg also earns the ODAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The Hornets, in addition to any at-large selections ODAC teams may earn, will learn their national stage positions when the field of 64 teams is announced on Monday at 1:00 p.m. ET on www.ncaa.com.

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Mertens was arguably the most dangerous player on the field all game, but a combination of missed opportunities and outstanding goalkeeping by BC's Hayley Talbott kept the Hornets at bay. Still, Mertens found a crack in the brick wall put up by Talbott with a well-placed right-footed bender inside the near-post from 20 yards out with 18-seconds remaining in the first overtime period.

Mertens finished with a game-high seven shots with three on-target. Katie Waring helped keep Talbott busy with five of her six shots requiring the Eagles' senior to make a save. Talbott finished with 10 stops, including an impressive double-save in the 83rd minute that turned back both previously mentioned LC strikers.

Talbott's counterpart, Delia LoSapio, was called on to make just one save, but that didn't mean Bridgewater didn't create moments of trepidation for LC's back-line. The trio of Emily Maxwell, Dana Seavey, and Tate Royer helped keep the Eagles' equally potent threesome of Keri Rager, Bailey Kratz and Isabella Krider with just two shots among them despite several threatening runs in the Hornets' defensive third.

Bridgewater's defense was also up to the task in front of Talbott, with Annie Sible and Sarah Brennan putting in strong shifts. The duo did well not to just hold down Mertens for most of the game, but also limit the opportunities of speedy winger Kennedy Jakubek.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Meagan Ryan, Roanoke
Laura Sullivan, Roanoke
Alex Davidson, Virginia Wesleyan
Zoe Traficante, Virginia Wesleyan
Bailey Kratz, Bridgewater
Grayson Mathews, Bridgewater
Hayley Talbott, Bridgewater
Georgie Duggan, Lynchburg
Emily Maxwell, Lynchburg
Caitlin Mertens, Lynchburg
Tate Royer, Lynchburg