Despite hitting the first goal of the game, the EMU field hockey women fell 2-1 in overtime of Saturday's ODAC Tournament quarterfinal game at Bridgewater College.  The Eagles advance to take on top-seeded Lynchburg in the semifinals, while Eastern Mennonite is done for the year.

The Royals dominated the opening 25 minutes, taking the first six shots of the contest.  The women took the lead in the 17th minute, as Melissa Cox (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) fired a cross to a wide-open Carol Brinkley (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) for a 1-0 lead.

Bridgewater turned up the pressure late in the half, and eventually score the equalizer with just 35 seconds left before the intermission.

The momentum continued to favor the home team in the second, as they earned 12 corners and fired 14 shots.  But EMU's defense held.  Late in regulation, the Royals looked to gain control as an Eagle player was given a green card, giving the women a one-player advantage with less than four minutes to play.  But Bridgewater wasted off the time and the game went into overtime tied at 1-1.

Playing 7-on-7, the Eagles seemed to have the edge in OT.  With 3:53 left, BC got their game-winner off a rebounded shot, sending them to the semifinals.

Senior Mary Beth Danaher (Matoaca, Va./Matoaca) had another great effort in goal, making 12 saves in the final game of her career.  It was her seventh double-digit save effort of 2013, and third in a row.

After the initial hot start, the Royals finished in a 25-10 deficit in shots.  Brinkley not only had her fourth goal of the season, but co-led the team with three shots.  Camille Williams (Media, Pa./Delaware County Christian) also had three.

The loss was the third in a row to Bridgewater.  EMU's last win in the series was an overtime victory in the ODAC Tournament quarterfinals in 2011.

Eastern Mennonite closes the year 4-15 overall.  The women also had a 4-4 record in the ODAC play.

Junior Mandy Stowers (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) finished the year with 10 defensive saves, tying the program record set by Radella Todd in 1988.  It was the final game for seniors Danaher, Brinkley and Mollie Lehman (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite).