Playing their third game in four days, the EMU field hockey team gave a fantastic effort against ODAC-leading Lynchburg Friday night in Harrisonburg. Led by 13 saves from backup goalie Arianna Nixon (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello), the Royals held Lynchburg to their lowest scoring output of the season in a 3-0 decision.

Eastern Mennonite ends the regular season with an overall record of 4-4, including 3-4 in ODAC play. Tuesday's win over Sweet Briar did not count as a conference game due to an ODAC rule that games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols would not be made up as conference contests.

The Royals are currently tied with Randolph-Macon for fifth in the league standings. Bridgewater (3-5) has one game remaining against ninth-place Virginia Wesleyan, and could jump both EMU and R-MC with a win.

Regardless of whether the Royals make the six-team ODAC Tournament, they earned their most wins in ODAC play since 2013. If they miss the tourney and end at 4-4, it would be the program's first .500 or better season since 2010.

Facing the high-pressure Hornets on Friday, the Royals stepped up their play. Nixon, a late insertion into the lineup after playing in just one game previously this season, made a handful of tough saves including a diving stop on a breakaway. She racked up 13 saves after earning just 10 total in eight games played as a freshman last year.

The backline also helped swat Lynchburg shots, as junior Brandy Troutman (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) made four defensive saves. It was a new single game high for Troutman, who co-led the nation in 2019 with an EMU record 17 defensive saves. Rachel Breslin (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) added two and Cassidy Armstrong (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) had one.

Skylar Hedgepeth (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield) and Alaina Fiden (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) had the Royals' only shot attempts, with Hedgepeth putting one on goal shortly before Fiden had a redirect slip just wide.

Lynchburg got goals in the first quarter from Emily Dudley and Brooke Hyland, and a later score from Alexis Brown. But EMU held reigning ODAC Offensive Player of the Year Jackie Lerro from hitting the cage.

Sunday's game between Bridgewater and Virginia Wesleyan is the final scheduled game of the regular season, with the tournament pairings to be released shortly afterwards. The quarterfinals of the ODAC Tournament start Tuesday.

With a hosting seed out of reach for EMU, seniors Lauren Hartzler (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), Bri Miller (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) and Clover Cooper (Barboursville, Va./Orange County) played their final game on the EMU Turf Field. Combined, the trio played in 185 of 186 possible games over their four years.

Coach Ashley Kishorn after the game: