The Eastern University women's soccer team entered today as the highest scoring team in school history. It was a strong defensive effort that earned the Eagles their first league title and trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history. A Jill DiRenzo goal in the 14th minute was all the scoring Eastern would need for the victory.

The Eagles jumped out to an early advantage in the ball control game and kept the visiting Cyclones pinned deep in their end for much of the moments of the game. That pressure paid off when DiRenzo found her way to the end of a Kara Neef serve to deposit her 24th goal of the season.

The Sophomore from Galloway, NJ scored six goals off the bench in her first year, but showed tremendous promise and had a really positive off-season and non-traditional season. DiRenzo made her mark with at least a goal in each of the twelve games played against Conference opponents. Coach Mouw said of DiRenzo's effort on the year, "Jill has been a major force for us all year. Jill has scored our first goal in something like 11 matches this year." The 18-3 Eagles have not lost a match this year in which they have scored a goal.

The Eagles continued to control the play for much of the half, but had two scary moments in the last ten minutes as Centenary senior standout Tanya DiDonna twice found space in the central seam and hit shots just over the crossbar. The Eagles out-shot the visiting Cyclones 6-3 for the first half and 14-4 for the game.

The second half saw the Eagles work to win balls in the midfield and grind out the game. "Ash [Hackman] stood up in the locker room at halftime, "Coach Mouw said,"  and she challenged her teammates to win every ball in the midfield. She did a great job leading the charge in that, and Heidi [Peachey] and Lauren [Roe] were fantastic in the air as well. We were able to pin them in deep for much of the half, and that was a difference in the match." 

It looked as though Hackman might give the Eagles a cushion in the 55th minute of the match when she eluded three different Cyclone defenders at the top of the box and fired just wide of the post. 

The Eagles earned five of their eight corner kicks for the game in the second half, and were dangerous on several of them, but were unable to beat Centenary keeper Ashley Denti, who had some help in front with defenders blocking shots, again.

Amanda Daveler picked up the shutout win in goal for the Eagles.

Box Score