Bridgewater, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's women's soccer team rallied for an early two-goal lead on the road but settled for a 2-2, overtime draw with Bridgewater Wednesday afternoon in a battle between Old Dominion Athletic Conference frontrunners.

Senior forward Caitlin Mertens (Succasunna, N.J.) scored twice for the Hornets, both in the first 6 minutes of the contest, and the Hornets took that lead into halftime.

Bridgewater knotted the score with a pair of second-half goals, however, and neither team was able to break the tie.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: No. 18 Lynchburg 2, Bridgewater 2 (OT)

Records: No. 18 Lynchburg (10-2-1, 3-1-1 ODAC), Bridgewater (11-1-1, 4-0-1 ODAC)

Venue: Bridgewater Soccer Complex, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mertens started the game hot, scoring in the third minute, unassisted, after beating several Eagle defenders and chipping the ball over the Bridgewater keeper in a one-on-one opportunity.

• Senior midfielder Kennedy Jakubek (Leesburg, Va.) assisted her classmate's second goal of the match and 17th of the season with just 5:10 off the game clock.

• After halftime, Bridgewater's Sydney Ryan chipped a long strike over the Lynchburg defense to make it 2-1 in the 51st minute. The Eagles' Hanna Randolph assisted that goal, and she scored 12 minutes later to tie the score.

• Bridgewater out-shot the Hornets 3-1 in overtime, but senior goalkeeper Delia LoSapio (Raleigh, N.C.) made two saves in the second overtime period to preserve the draw.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will continue ODAC play Saturday, Oct. 13 at Sweet Briar. First whistle blows at 2:30 p.m.

--LYN--