FREDERICK, Md. – The Hood College women's lacrosse team held their home season opener on Wednesday evening against the Eagles of Bridgewater College and fell in overtime 13-12.
Inside the Box Score
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) netted six goals which led the Blazers.
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) scored three goals and won nine draw controls.
Menna Salem (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) added three goals in the contest.
Emma Massey (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) caused three turnovers.
How it Happened
It wouldn't take long for the Blazers offense to get rolling early into the contest, as
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) scored just over a minute into the game to give Hood the early advantage over Bridgewater 1-0.
Bridgewater evened the playing field with a quick score of their own shortly after the Gregory goal to tie it back up 1-1.
Midway through the first quarter, the Eagles added another goal to make the score 2-1 in favor of Bridgewater.
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) joined in on the fun and netted her first goal of the game to make the score 2-2, and shortly after Merrill won a draw control and quickly found Gregory to assist on her second goal in the first quarter.
Bridgewater's Paige Mayers looked to match Gregory's offensive aggression, with a goal of her own just under a minute left in the first quarter to knot it up 3 to 3.
As the first quarter came to an end, the matchup between the Blazers and Eagles was shaping out to be a back and forth battle to the bitter end.
The second quarter highlighted more of the defensive prowess as a goal wouldn't be scored until midway through the second quarter, as
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) netted her third goal of the game to give the Blazers a 4 to 3 lead.
The Eagles fired off a quick shot that found the back of the net, as both teams headed into the break tied at 4-4 with neither team able to pull away.
The tug of war continued into the third quarter, as the Eagles Andre Locra scored early into the third.
The Blazers unfazed by the Locra goal, as Merrill netted her second goal of the contest off a free position shot and responded just 27 seconds later to post her third goal of the game and gave Hood a 6 to 5 lead over Bridgewater.
Menna Salem (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) scored off a free position shot, which gave Hood a 7-5 lead around the eight minute mark , but the Eagles didn't budge and fired a shot of their own and found the back of the goal to close the gap to just one, 7 to 6 still in favor of Hood.
Bridgewater tied the score back up 7-7 and then took the lead 8 to 7 over Hood, but Gregory wasn't done, as
Geneva DiRe (Lebanon Township, N.J./Voorhees) assisted on Gregory's fourth goal of the game and ended the quarter knotted at 8 a piece for each team.
Early into the fourth quarter saw
Menna Salem (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) and
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) continue to stay aggressive offensively, as both fired shots and gave the Blazers a 10 to 8 lead.
Salem wouldn't stop there as she added another goal to give the Blazers a 11 to 8 lead over Bridgewater.
Despite the deficit, the Eagles continued to battle and stopped the bleeding with two goals of their own to close the lead 11 to 10, still in favor of Hood.
Gregory was persistent in her attack of the Eagles defense as she scored her sixth goal of the game, and with just under four minutes left in regulation, that seemed to be the dagger.
Somehow the Eagles clawed their way back into the game and scored two goals right before the end of regulation to send this thrilling game into overtime tied 12-12.
Bridgewater earned a free position shot opportunity , and despite the Blazers' valiant efforts throughout the game, the Eagles would spoil the home opener of the season for Hood, ending a thrilling overtime game 13 to 12.
For the Opponent
Paige Mayers had six goals in the game, while Paige Overeem scored the game winning goal.
Maisen Jenkins earned the win and made 12 saves.
Analysis
Hood outshot Bridgewater 33-27.
Both teams were tied at 11 for ground balls.
Hood held the advantage in draw controls 17 to 10.
Notes
Hood falls to 0-2 overall.
Bridgewater improves to 1-0 to start the year.
Up Next
The Hood College women's lacrosse team will travel to Westminster, Md. to take on the Green Terror of McDaniel College, on Wednesday, February 25, at 4:30.