Box Score
October 13, 2009
Short-Handed Women Wear Out Against Eagles
Freshman Ally Brown scored in the 31st minute, but Bridgewater scored three unanswered to beat EMU.
Injuries have taken a bit of toll on the Eastern Mennonite women's soccer team this season. With a roster of 18 players, just 15 dressed for Tuesday's road game at rival Bridgewater. Despite a scoring first and giving a valiant effort, the Lady Royals couldn't hold off the young, and healthy, Eagles in a 3-1 loss.
Meghan Lutz (Mt. Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson),
Katrina Goering (Columbus, Oh./Grandview Heights), and
Jordan Barkus (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg) all sat on the sidelines for the game, leaving only
Stephanie Kanagy (Timberville, Va./Broadway),
Amber Shelly (Bluffton, Oh./Bluffton),
Rose Byler (Goshen, In./Goshen), and
Britney Kurtz (Salem, Oh./South Range) as subs.
Bridgewater grabbed control early in the game, but EMU's defense held and slowly gained momentum. After 30 minutes of scoreless play, the Lady Royals struck first when
Ally Brown (East Petersburg, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) grabbed a loose ball and stuck it in the net for a 1-0 lead.
But nine minutes later, the Eagles netted the equalizer when they used a corner kick for a short pass to an open Kathy Bundrick who lofted a shot from the left box over keeper
Abby Diffenbach (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite).
The Lady Royals held on until halftime, when their starters could get a breather. To start out the second half, EMU was refreshed and tied, hoping to slip in a strike. But Bridgewater's speedy defense kept tabs on forwards
Jess Myers (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) and
Taylor Sayre (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro), holding the attackers from good looks at the goal.
At 78:13, the Eagles grabbed the lead off another corner when Brittany Harris got loose and headed a bouncer in to make it 2-1. Just a minute and a half later, Harris scored again as she, an EMU defender, and Diffenbach all got tangled up and Harris tipped the ball in.
The Lady Royals regrouped but could only manage a pair of long-range shots as they took the 3-1 loss.
EMU was outshot 18-8. Bridgewater also had an 8-2 edge in corners. Diffenbach finished with seven saves.
The loss drops the women to 5-8 overall and 2-5 in the ODAC. EMU hosts Roanoke Saturday, Oct. 17. The 4:00 match is also Parent/Senior Recognition.
