VIRGINIA BEACH -- It took the perfect cross to produce the perfect header that put an end to a perfect season Thursday.

Bridgewater College senior Morgan Keplinger (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) crossed the ball from the right side of the field through Virginia Wesleyan College's defense to junior teammate Melanie Waters (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) who headed the ball into the right side to give the unheralded Eagles a stunning 2-1 upset victory the host Marlins on Foster Field at the Trinder Center.

The goal was scored with only 22 seconds remaining and No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan was unable to find the goal to send the Old Dominion Athletic Conference semifinal tournament game in to overtime.  The Marlins, seeded No. 1 in the tourney, suffered its first loss in 20 games.

Next up for VWC (18-1-1) is a wait until the NCAA's selection show for the Division III championship tournament.  The tournament field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 5, at 1:30 p.m.  Bridgewater (12-6-2) will try to secure a berth in the national tournament by becoming the ODAC's automatic qualifer.  That will only happen if the Eagles can upset No. 7 Lynchburg College (18-0-3) in the conference's championship game on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. in Lynchburg.

Bridgewater made it known early that it was in Virginia Beach ready to play on Thursday as the Eagles put the first goal on the scoreboard.  After taking a pass from Michelle Viegas (Laurel, Md./Reservoir), Sarah Conner (Eldersburg, Md./Century) found herself in front of the goal and in a one-on-one situation with VWC goalie Erica Keil (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic).  Conner moved forward and kicked the ball to the left, out of Keil's reach, to give Bridgewater a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute.

The Eagles rode that lead through halftime, but Virginia Wesleyan tied things only four minutes into the second half.  Christina Fernandes (Tinton Falls, N.J./Tinton Falls) knocked the ball into the net from five yards out on the left, set up by an assist from Kaitlyn Clunan (Virginia Beach/Bayside).

Virginia Wesleyan had numerous offensive chances in the second half, but could not connect with the net.  The Marlins out-shot the Eagles 12-5 in the half and 19-8 in the game.  The Marlins also posted a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Krista Witmer (Lancaster, Pa./Millersville),Angel Horowitz (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North), and Lizzy Parr (Columbia, Md./Atholton) played major roles in keeping Bridgewater in check.

Keil finished with two saves for Virginia Wesleyan and Lindsay McDole (Roanoke/Catholic) recorded three stops for Bridgewater.

--AMDG--