BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Eastern Field Hockey battled valiantly on Tuesday night in its final non-conference game of the season, but host Bridgewater scored the game-winning goal on a penalty stroke in overtime to come away with a 3-2 win. The Eagles were outshot 31-7 for the contest and gave up 15 penalty corners, but were able to force overtime by not giving up a goal in the second half. Junior goalkeeper
Angelina Catania made 14 saves in over 65 minutes of action.
Bridgewater took the first eight shots of the game, and the eighth found the back of the cage as Mollie Best 8:31 into the contest to give the host Eagles a 1-0 lead. Senior
Alyssa Caldini answered back just over two minutes later off an assist from
Braeley DiGregorio on a penalty corner. It's her fourth goal of the season after not scoring a goal in her first three seasons.
Eastern grabbed a 2-1 lead five minutes into the second quarter off another penalty corner. Junior
CJ Summa's first shot was blocked, but her second shot in the sequence found the back of the cage for her eighth goal of the season, tying her with
Karlee Howard for the team lead. Natalie Stock answered just under two minutes later for Bridgewater to tie the game at 2-2 heading into halftime.
Despite 16 shots from Bridgewater in the second half, Catania stood tall, making eight saves, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. In the overtime period, Caldini had another chance off a penalty corner three minutes in, but her chance was saved. After a foul in the circle, Bridgewater's Kiley Parker converted on the ensuing penalty stroke to secure the win.
Eastern (7-4) returns home Friday to take on Messiah at 3:30 pm to begin Homecoming Weekend.
