Eastern University Men's Soccer dropped a difficult 2-1 decision to Wilkes University in front of a very large homecoming crowd. Rusty Helwig scored the game-winner for Wilkes in the 79th minute. Eastern produced a final flurry of energy but were unable to solve the Colonel defense to tie the game.

Wilkes took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Sean Stitt slid a shot in transition past a hard-charging Michael Dorsch. The Eagles rallied and seemed to take control of the game, but it took just over ten minutes for the home side to find the equalizer. First-year forward Braden Gross took a pass inside the box from Phil Mantua and cracked a low shot just inside the left upright for his second goal of the year.

After Gross scored, it looked as though the Eagles were going to settle in and finish the game. The visitors absorbed pressure for the remainder of the first half, and the game went to the break level at one goal apiece. Wilkes held a slim 6-5 advantage in shots, but the Eagles had 4-0 edge in corners.

Though the game stayed level until the 79th minute, the home team pushed much of the action. Helwig knocked home a loose ball in front of the net to break the tie. With the 2-1 lead, the visitors dropped numbers in behind the ball and kept the lead safe.

TJ Baloga made six saves to secure the win for the Colonels. Dorsch made five saves for the Eagles.

Each of the remaining games takes on great significance for the Eagles, who fell to 0-1-1 in Freedom Conference play. Eastern returns to action Wednesday afternoon with another home conference game against Delaware Valley College.

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