Men’s soccer: Bridgewater gets ODAC win in OT

Bridgewater College junior Renato Grgic scored three minutes into the first overtime period Saturday afternoon to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 ODAC victory over the Guilford College Quakers.

Bridgewater took the lead in the 19th minute with the lone goal of the first half. Matthew Pagano took a free kick from beyond midfield and sent the ball into the box where Dustin Heard fired off a shot that hit the crossbar. The rebound came right back at Heard and he headed the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Eagles lead.

The Eagles held the lead until the 52nd minute when Guilford’s Ricky Aguilar was open at the top of the box and the Quakers’ forward ripped a shot past Eagles’ Mark Davis to tie the score at 1-1.

Bridgewater had two good shots at taking the lead in the 71st minute. Eagles’ defender Terrance Andrewspushed into the offensive zone and his shot to the near post from the top of the box was denied by a diving save by Guilford keeper Eric Hayes. Less than a minute later, Andrews worked free again, this time from just outside the box and his shot hit the crossbar and bounced harmlessly over the goal.

Guilford had a pair of shot attempts from long range to start the overtime, but both were well off target.

Bridgewater then worked the ball into the offensive zone for what proved to be the game-winning shot. Grgic chased down a pass on the right side and took an open shot that eluded the keeper and found the net just inside the far post to five the Eagles the 2-1 victory.

The Eagles finished the game with a 23-9 shot advantage and a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.

Davis recorded three saves in goal while Guilford keeper Hayes finished with six saves.

The Eagles, now 5-3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ODAC, return to action Wednesday afternoon when they host Emory & Henry in a non-conference game.