Women’s soccer: Bridgewater shuts out Eastern Mennonite, 4-0

Bridgewater College got back on the winning track Tuesday afternoon with a convincing 4-0 victory over rival Eastern Mennonite in ODAC women’s soccer action.

The victory was the eighth straight for the Eagles over their crosstown rival and the sixth straight via a shutout.

Bridgewater bounced back from its lone conference loss this past Saturday at Washington and Lee by scoring twice in the first 20 minutes to take control of Tuesday’s contest.

The Eagles got on the board in the 15th minute by taking advantage of a corner kick opportunity. Isabella Kridertook the corner and sent the ball to the front of the goal where Grayson Mathews touched it past the keeper to put the Eagles on the board.

Bridgewater tallied again less than three minutes later when Keri Rager put a cross into the box and Krider finished with a shot from straight away, making the score 2-0.

The Eagles tallied their final goal of the half in the closing minutes. The Royals were whistled for a foul outside the box and Bridgewater’s Sarah Brennan took the free kick. Her kick went directly into the wall established by the EMU defenders, but the ball bounced right back to Brennan and this time she sent a shot into the goal from just outside the box to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Bridgewater scored its only goal of the second half in the 65th minute. Jessica Bergan sent a cross into the box and Janidy Madera beat the keeper from straight away, making the score 4-0.

The Bridgewater defense smothered the Royals as the Eagles did not allow a shot until the final six minutes of play.

EMU’s lone chance to score came in the final minute when the Royals earned a corner kick opportunity. Hannah Walker’s header bounced off the crossbar as the contest ended with the Eagles holding the four-goal lead.

Bridgewater finished the contest with a dominant 35-2 advantage in shots and an 11-2 edge in corner kicks.

The shutout was the eight of the season for the Eagles.

Bridgewater, now 9-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the ODAC, is back in action Friday afternoon when the Eagles travel to Sweet Briar for another conference matchup.