Men’s soccer: Bridgewater slips past E&H, 1-0

Bridgewater College recorded its fifth shutout of the season Wednesday afternoon as the Eagles edged Emory & Henry 1-0 in men’s soccer action.

With the victory the Eagles improved to 6-3-2 on the season while the Wasps dropped to 7-4. Due to the unbalanced schedule being used by the ODAC this season, Wednesday’s outcome did not count in the conference standings.

The visitors kept the pressure on the Eagles for much of the first half with a 10-5 advantage in shots, but the Bridgewater defense was solid and keeper Mark Davis recorded six saves to keep the Wasps off the board.

The Wasps had an open shot to take the lead in the 34^th minute when Edgar Rivas sent a ball into the box and put the pass on the foot of Jordan Couch. The Wasps’ leading scorer missed the open attempt from 10 yards out as his shot sailed wide of the goal.

Bridgewater missed a big opportunity to take the lead in the 35^th minute when Dustin Heard was tripped in the box by Wasps’ defender Massimo Tager. Renato Grgic took the penalty kick for the Eagles, but E&H keeper Didier Grillet made a diving one-handed save to deny the Eagles.

The Wasps were awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of the first half and this time it was Davis coming up with a huge save. Couch was working for a shot inside the six when he taken down by Eagles defender Matthew Pagano. Zach Quest took the penalty kick for the Wasps and Davis blocked the attempt with a diving save to the left post. Pagano cleared the ball out of the box and the half ended with the game still scoreless.

The Eagles controlled more of the play in the second half and scored the game’s lone goal in the 70^th minute.

Emory & Henry’s Randal Colquitt was whistled for a yellow card, giving the Eagles a free kick from the left side, just outside the box. Leo Alcantara sent the kick across the box to the far post where Connor Henderson headed the ball just inside the post from 6 yards out past a diving Grillet, giving the Eagles the 1-0 lead.

Bridgewater finished the contest with a slim 14-13 edge in shots while the Wasps held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Davis finished the contest with eight saves while Grillet recorded five saves for the Wasps.

Bridgewater returns to conference action Saturday when the Eagles travel to play the Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins. Game time is 1:30 p.m.