SWEET BRIAR, Va. - This season just keeps getting better and better for
Bridget Hay.
The sophomore from Warren County, scored four goals, and assisted on a fifth, for a six-point day, en route to a 6-0 win over Sweet Briar. Hay's four goals tied the EMU single-game goal record with Ellie Lind, who scored four against Sweet Briar in 2000, and Marissa Walker, who accomplished the feat against Hollins in 2022.
Records EMU 6-9-2, 4-5 ODAC | Sweet Briar 2-9-3, 2-7-0 ODAC
Highlights
- The Royals came out strong, and it only took them three minutes to get ahead on the scoreboard. After a magnificent through ball from Maggie Ladd, Esme Cardoso drove the ball all the way from midfield into the Vixens' box before crossing it to find the left foot of Bridget Hay, giving EMU the 1-0 lead.
- The Royals' lead would increase in the 18th minute when, after an amazing through ball by Hay, Hannah Kepler found herself in a one-on-one battle against the Vixens' goalkeeper, who was outside her box. Kepler simply dribbled past her and shot on goal to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.
- Despite the lead, Royals goalkeeper Gabi Dewey was hard at work as she registered seven saves in the first half. One of those saves came crucially later in the half when she stopped a shot by a Sweet Briar player, denying the Vixens a chance to get on the scoreboard and sending the game to halftime.
- The Royals came out hungry in the second half and found their reward early. Just 30 seconds after the referee's whistle, Hay found a deep ball sent by Bryn Yoder and drove it past the goalkeeper before tapping it into the net to give the Royals a 3-0 lead.
- Just a couple of minutes later, Cardoso stole the ball from a Vixens defender and made her run toward Sweet Briar's box, where she was tackled by the Vixens' goalkeeper. The referee awarded a penalty kick, which Hailey Walker took and converted to make it 4-0 for the Royals.
- After that goal, the second half would become pretty quiet until the 87th minute, when Anneliese Denlinger sent a high through ball that Hay drove all the way from midfield into the Vixens' area after. Hay's run was stopped by Sweet Briar's goalkeeper, and the ball landed at the feet of Emma Swarm, whose shot was blocked. Nonetheless, luck was on the Royals' side as the rebound came back to Hay, who simply had to tap the ball into the net to give the Royals a 5-0 lead.
- Hay would seal a tremendous performance two minutes later when she took a pass from Denlinger, flew down the right wing, beat her defender, and scored her fourth goal of the match giving the Royals the 6-0 win. This goal puts Hay tied for third all time in EMU history for most goals in a single season.
Statistical Leaders
Goals: Hay (4), Kepler (1), Walker (1)
Assists: Hay, Yoder and Denlinger (1)
Saves: Dewey (7)
What's Next
The Royals will be back in action Wednesday night at home to wrap up their regular-season schedule with an ODAC matchup against the Roanoke College Maroons. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.
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