The Eastern University women's soccer team entered their first NCAA tournament averaging nearly four goals a match for the year, but things tighten up considerably in the post-season, and the Eagles had to make a third minute goal from Jill DiRenzo stand for a 1-0 win over Salisbury University. The Eagles will take on the host College of New Jersey team in a 1:00 pm game Sunday.
The expected jitters of a first appearance in the NCAA tournament were quickly erased when Chrissy West collected a pass from Nicole Grindle near midfield on the right flank. West made a quick move into space and drove hard toward the end-line. The junior from Colorado hit a late bending ball at the Back post that DiRenzo headed home for her team-high 25th goal of the year. The goal was the 12th time this year that the sophomore has scored the first Eastern goal of a match.
The Eagles carried much of the play for the first half out-shooting the Gulls 8-4 in the first half. Amanda Daveler made two of her five saves in goal and managed her box well, but received some help from Steffie Sauder in the 25th minute. After Daveler scrambled off her line for a loose ball, the ball popped out to a Salisbury player who fired the ball goalward only to have Sauder volley the ball off the goal-line and out of immediate danger. The Gulls then seemed to have the equalizer, but the play was correctly ruled offside.
The Eagles held a 1-0 advantage at half, and produced a four shot flurry in the 53rd minute that looked like it was going to double the Eastern lead. Hackman slid a ball between the Salisbury backs for West. Salisbury goalkeeper Gena Goodson made a the save on West's shot, but the ball trickled toward the lower corner. A Salisbury back cleared the ball to the top of the box where DiRenzo cracked a volley that rang off the crossbar. After a partial clear from the Gulls, Kara Neef served a ball back in that Nicole Grindle hit inches over the bar.
Coach Mouw said of the win, "This is a really great win for these girls and for the program. We can look down the roster and see players who stepped up with big performances this afternoon. West was really dynamic today, and Kaylena [Crompton] made her mark in the second half after Heidi got hurt. Liza and Steffie were incredibly solid in the back for us today. We are looking forward to a great contest tomorrow."
The Eagles had six second half shots to the Gulls' four, and were able to keep pressure on the Salisbury end to close out the game. Daveler earned the shutout win in goal for the Eagles.
Box Score
