Women’s soccer: Bridgewater ties No. 8 Lynchburg

Bridgewater College played No. 8 Lynchburg College to a 0-0 tie in double OT Saturday at the BC Soccer Field in ODAC women’s soccer action.

The tie marked the first time in program history that the Eagles have earned a point for a tie or victory against the Hornets.

Bridgewater, ranked No. 7 in the South Atlantic Region, is now 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the ODAC while Lynchburg, the top-ranked team in the region, is 6-0-3 overall and 1-0-2 in the conference.

The first half was a defensive struggle with much of the play taking place in the midfield.

The Eagles had the first good opportunity when they earned a corner kick in the eighth minute. Bailey Kratz sent the corner to the far post where Isabella Weigel just missed getting a head on the ball.

Lynchburg’s best opportunity in the first half came in the 11^th minute. Samantha Bagherpour whistled a shot toward goal from 15 yards out, but Eagles’ keeper Hayley Talbott was there for the save. The rebound went to the left of the box where Caitlin Mertens sent a shot toward the near post. Talbott made a lunging save to keep the Hornets off the scoreboard.

Bridgewater had another solid scoring chance early in the second half when Weigel was 1-on-1 with keeper Tess Frelick. With a defender on her hip, Weigel’s attempt with the left foot from 12 yards out sailed just wide of the post.

Three minutes after Weigel’s miss, Lynchburg’s Kelly Smith was open from just outside the box, but her shot hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal, keeping the score 0-0.

The Hornets controlled the overtimes with a 4-0 edge in shots in each period, but the Eagles’ defense remained solid to gain the 0-0 draw.

The Hornets finished with a 27-6 edge in shots, including the 8-0 margin in the two overtime sessions. Lynchburg also held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Talbott finished the game with seven saves while Frelick recorded one save for the Hornets.

Bridgewater is back in action Tuesday when the Eagles travel to Danville, Va., to play Averett in their final non-conference game of the season.