Eagles Off To A 2-0 Start

Two weeks ago the Bridgewater College women's soccer team arrived for preseason ready to take on a new year, play some soccer and break some records.

The first two weeks were all about integrating the new freshmen with the returners, and of course, getting into soccer shape (that means running A LOT!).

Halfway through preseason we took a camping trip to Brethren Woods so we could bond with each other. We pitched our tents, did a low ropes course, cooked dinner over the fire and performed our skits (a tradition on the team), all while facing the rough Hurricane Irene weather. This was a short trip as we were back on the field that Monday.

The girls quickly pulled together and practices flew by, leading into our first two games of the season. Saturday, Sept. 3 we faced Marywood, a team that was picked to finish first in their conference preseason poll. We topped Marywood 2-1 to get our first victory of the season. I give props to the entire team as everyone executed their part well so we could win this game.

On Sunday our opponent was Marymount, a team we played the year before in a game we won 5-2. We knew this game would not be a cake walk, so we had to be on our A-game. Of course they would be out for revenge. Who wouldn’t be? But we defeated Marymount. and this time the score was 3-2.

So now we sit with a record of 2-0. Our hopes are high for the upcoming games this Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. These games will not be easy, but will prepare us for conference play that is just around the corner.

- Jess Palmer

The Season Starts In One Week!

Hey Everyone!! I’m here to give you another update on how the preseason is going for the Eagles.

It is now officially a week before our first game, so we are all keeping the intensity high so we will be ready.

Thursday we had our first scrimmage with a club team and we were preparing ourselves the whole day by having the morning session be all about shooting and finishing. In the afternoon we did a full team game analysis. Coach had told us what his expectations were for this game. As the game started it was a little shaky, but as the game went on it got better and we started to combine and get scoring chances. We ended up only winning 1-0, but created many opportunities. Coach was happy with how the scrimmage turned out, but we could tell we still need to be working to be ready for the season.

Also, on Wednesday we were told that every class (freshman, sophomore, juniors, and seniors) has to create a scary story skit for our camping trip. So, in our free time that we were given on Thursday between the first and the second session, the freshman went over our skit. And you can check back on Monday and see how those went.

During the first session Thursday, we focused more on defense because the past few days we have been focusing on offense. So, after working on shape and defense, the second session of the day was really used for 1v1s and going to goal.

All of us are really excited for the season to start, and we only have one more week to go. Come out and support us next week with our first game of the season!!

Check back on Monday to see how our camping trip went!!

GO EAGLES!

Erin Holden

Eagles Working To Find The Right Combination

Hey everyone! I’m back for another update on how the preseason is going for us.

These last two days, a lot of the same things have been happening. We are trying to find the right 11 on the field together while working on moving the ball in the offensive third and keeping our shape in the defensive third.

On Tuesday, we ran another fitness test and everybody was supporting each other. Along with the fitness, we worked on a lot of team defense, and we worked on 1v1’s and some 2v2’s. Tuesday afternoon coach brought us out separately based on positions and we had to use what we went over in our positional meetings. That night we put it all together with the midfielders trying to get past the defense’s shape while the forwards worked on finishing.

On Wednesday, we worked more on putting it all together on the field, moving players around to get a feel. We spent much of the morning with the midfielders and forwards doing combination plays to help them with the transitions. With the break that we had in between the sessions we had to take our headshots, and along with the headshots we had to film a video about ourselves. And through all the mishaps and mistakes everybody eventually finished. In our last tactical session of the day, we worked more on combinations and the speed of play so that when the season starts we are on top of our game.

You can tell by the intensity of these sessions that everybody is excited for the season to start. And these few days are just a start to a great season!!

GO EAGLES!

Erin Holden

Practice Begins For 2011 Eagles

Hey Everyone!! It’s time for an update on how the team is doing in preseason.

Since my last update, a lot of things have happened. I got here on Sunday with many things to do. We had a few hours to move in all of our stuff, meet up with our roommates and get our drug tests done. After saying our final goodbyes to our loved ones, we jumped right into it with our first team meeting. This helped because we got to meet everybody before the first session. It helped break the ice and it also gave us an idea of what coach’s expectations were.

But, it was not until the first day that I really saw how supportive everybody was. Throughout the day, whether it was fitness or a drill, my teammates were cheering me on. That really helped me finish many of the tasks, especially the fitness workouts. The morning session was all about fitness and getting touches on the ball and getting used to each other. The night before and that morning, I was very nervous about the first session, but as we got into it I became more comfortable, mostly because of the support of the girls.

On the first day, we ended up not having an afternoon session. Instead, we had positional meetings. Coach brought all of the different positions into a room, and he told us his expectations. He showed lots of tape to us, explaining certain things that we should be doing and things you definitely do not do. This really helped us freshmen to know what we need to do to be ready for the season, while for the returners it was more of a review.

We had one last session after dinner, which was just playing. Coach split us into teams by class and we just scrimmaged - underclassmen against upperclassmen. And, since we were learning a new formation there was some stopping to fix some things.

So, for the first day many of the people were happy with the way that it went. Everybody worked hard and we are all getting there and we can all see, based on the first day, that everybody is excited for the season to start.

GO EAGLES!

Erin Holden

Eagles "Believe" In 2011

Hello to all the Bridgewater women’s soccer fans!!

We are back in action for the 2011 season. For some of us it is the first and others it’s the last. My name is Jess Palmer, a senior for the BC Lady Eagles and coming out of blog writing retirement for my last season.

The past three years of soccer for Bridgewater has been a journey; and as a senior, it’s seeing the program evolve into something that cannot go unnoticed. My freshman year our record was 6-12-1, making the eighth seed of the ODAC tournament. Sophomore year was about breaking records and setting the standard for years to come with a record of 13-6-1. Junior year was about establishing BC soccer in the top half of the conference, finishing as the fourth seed in the ODAC tournament and hosting the first round of the playoffs. This year, my senior year, the expectation from the coaching staff, the captains, the returners and the incoming freshman is to win an ODAC championship.

This year the team motto is “WE BELIEVE.” We believe that everyone will give 100% during preseason training and practice. We believe that when it comes time to step on the field we will take victory over our opponent. And we believe that through our hard work and dedication, a first ever women’s soccer championship title will be brought to Bridgewater College and the soccer program.

I am very excited to be back with my soccer family, when we all unite again on Sunday for the start of preseason. This is going to be another record breaking season for the Bridgewater Eagles and with everyone’s attendance and support it will be an even more unforgettable season.

The Season Is Almost Here!

Hey Everyone! My name is Erin Holden and I am one of the recruited incoming freshmen for the Bridgewater College women’s soccer team. I am here to give you an insight into our pre-season.

Right now everybody is packing and doing their final preparations for pre-season - boxes, suitcases, crates and bags. How do I fit all my stuff and where will I put it all is going through my mind as my last few days at home are coming to a close. As teams members have been coordinating with their roommates for what to bring to school, I have been talking to my roommate Sarah on what we are each bringing. I have been preparing all summer for our season along with my teammates. Throughout the summer I have been pushing myself with the fitness workouts and tests that Coach has been telling us to do so that we are fully prepared and ready. Along with fitness workouts I have been trying to play soccer as much as I can by working out with my brother’s club teams and playing with his co-ed indoor soccer team.

Being one of four children, I am very lucky that leaving home and leaving my family is not as bad as I was anticipating because I have been to Bridgewater camp for the past two years. When I came to camp I immediately felt like I was part of the team. Going to camp these past two years really helped me make my decision on Bridgewater. It helps knowing some of the people that I will be seeing when I get there. So I won’t be uncomfortable. I will not have to worry about not knowing the team.

All through my soccer career my family has supported it and when I told them I was coming to Bridgewater, I knew I was going to be seeing them a lot. My brothers, who I grew up playing soccer with, have really pushed me to be the best I can and they have helped me to where I am today, so it is the hardest having to leave them. It’s going to be really hard leaving my friends and family, but my family will be supporting me through it all. I am looking forward to getting to Bridgewater on Sunday and getting started with new people and new experiences. Although I have lived in Northern Virginia my whole life, I am ready for a change. I will be writing a blog every few days about my experience throughout these two weeks. So, make sure you keep checking up and see how it’s going for me and my fellow teammates!

GO EAGLES!

Historic Victory Gives Eagles Home Field Edge In First Round

Hey everyone! I have some exciting news for you! This Saturday we finished up our regular season play and made history all in one weekend.

We traveled to Washington and Lee on Saturday for a contest against the defending ODAC champions. Going into the game, Washington and Lee had been perfect against us on their home turf, and this time, we wanted to change that, but we would have to play great defense and create some opportunities to beat such a strong opponent. We played to a scoreless tie at halftime and with 20 minutes left in the second half we finally broke through their tough defense to draw a foul in the box and score on a penalty kick. It was the only goal of the game which made for an exciting victory.

Since it was the last of our regular season games, this game was the deciding factor of whether or not we would have home field advantage. The victory gave us that and for the first time in program history we will be hosting the first round of ODACS!! Our opponent…………Washington and Lee.

This is going to be a great game! There will be t-shirts and scarves available, and maybe some halftime festivities. Everyone should come and have fun, let’s set a new attendance record! Be Loud and Proud to be an EAGLE!

GO EAGLES!! FEAR NO ONE!!!