Senior forward Aaron Tritch scored in the 89th minute to lift Eastern University Men's soccer to a PAC Championship with a 1-0 win over Misericordia University. Tritch's seventh tally of the year gives the Eagles the PAC's automatic qualifier spot in the NCAA Tournament which will begin next week.

The first half of the match saw both teams struggling to gain a significant advantage as much of the play happened in the middle third of the field. The tough physical contest saw the Eagles fire four first period shots to the host Cougar's three. Misericordia had earned the right to host the Championship game by virtue of their 2-1 overtime win at Eastern to open the PAC season in early September.

Michael Dorsch made his only save of the match for the Eagles in the first half, and Andrew Lloyd made two of his three saves in the opening frame. The Eagles have made a priority of defending restarts, and they had to be successful on the afternoon as the Cougars earned four corner kicks in the first half and three in the second.

The Eagles began to control more of the action as the half closed, but Misericordia continued to compress the field to give the Eagles problems. The second half continued much as the first, and it looked as though this game might also go to overtime until Nate Goble won a ball on the right side and cracked a big angle ball over a pressing back line into Tritch's path. The speedy winger took a touch into central space to eliminate his defender and cracked his second touch into the net for the game-winner.

The Eagles earned the win in spite of significant adversity. Already without Brian Raffle and Lance Burris on the flanks, the Eagles suffered a blow early when Dann DeLorenzo sustained a concussion and was unable to continue. Mark Wagner said of the decisive goal, "We were finally able to take advantage of the available space on the field. We caught their back line stepping just a bit too hard, and Aaron made a brilliant first touch to set up the goal. Nate did exactly what we were telling the guys to do. I am very proud of these guys."

Michael Dorsch picked up the shutout win in goal. Tritch earned Championship MVP Honors for his efforts. 

Eastern, who was picked to win in the Preseason poll, has won the PAC in each odd numbered year in the past five. The Eagles will not defend that title next year as Eastern will move to the MAC Freedom at the start of the 2008 school year.

The Eagles await word from the NCAA as to the place, date, time, and opponent for their first round match. That information will be published here by noon on Monday.