Box Score
It was a "tale of two halves" as the BJU Bruins and the Chowan Hawks took the field on Friday night at Alumni Stadium. The Bruins entered the match having won their previous five games, having not allowed a goal since September 22nd. The team welcomed a powerful Chowan team who is 2-14 on the year, but plays in a very difficult NCAA conference. The game would be extra special on this night as the Bruins honored the three seniors on the team. 

From the opening kickoff, the Hawks played with a speed and intensity that the Bruins hadn't seen all year. The Hawks were able to move with great precision and generated great offensive runs in the opening minutes. As the two teams battled back and forth, both made several rushes on the net. In the 17th minute of play, the Hawks' Antonio Carrabotta popped a shot over the fingertips of Jon Sandy to put the Hawks up 1-0. Less than ten minutes later, Jose Oteze scored on a beautiful low shot to make it 2-0. Despite all of the Bruin efforts, the Hawks continued to control the pace of the game. At the half, the Bruins were down 2-0.

"We knew this wasn't the last time we were going to be down," Coach McCormick said. "We were able to generate good opportunities throughout the first half, but Chowan just has some good players out there."

During the halftime festivities, the Bruins honored Goalie Jon Sandy, Midfielder Caleb McKisic and Defensemen Kai Hubbard. These three seniors have been outstanding leaders both on and off the field. 

As the second half began, the Bruins looked to get momentum on their side. The Bruin faithful began to cheer louder and louder, trying to rally their team to victory. At the midpoint of the second half, the Bruins were desperately trying to break into the score column. On a loose ball, Caleb McKisic would do just that as he fired a beauty into the back of the net to put the Bruins on the board. "It is fitting being it is senior night," Coach McCormick said. "Caleb's shot really flipped the switch for us."

The momentum had shifted, and the Bruins began to play with great intensity. Less than three minutes later, Travis Woodham scored off of a beautiful through pass from Ryan McCarty to tie the game at 2-2. Less than three minutes after that, the Bruins found the back of the net again as Travis Woodham maneuvered around Hawks goalie Grayson Smith to score making it 3-2. 

The Hawks stood in disbelief as the Bruins had scored three unanswered goals in less than 5 minutes of play. The Hawks had gone from a comfortable 2-0 lead, to playing from behin. The Hawks picked up the intensity as they sought to tie the game back up. Doing so left the Hawks defense exposed as in the 84th minute, McCarty fed Woodham again for the goal to give Woodham a hat trick on the night. 

"Travis has been coming up big for us all year," Coach McCormick said. "He provides great energy every time he comes off the bench and the guys feed off of that."

As the final buzzer sounded, the Bruins had completed the comeback with four unanswered goals to win 4-2. The Bruins have now won 6 straight games, and will look to continue that streak as they travel to Columbia tomorrow for a match with Columbia International University. The Bruins will definitely be tested as the team will play two matches in the next three days. Despite the busy couple in the next few days, the Bruins will relish in a tremendous come from behind victory on Friday night.