The Eastern University field hockey team secured the top seed in the Freedom Conference playoffs on Tuesday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over Delaware Valley College. Del Val entered this afternoon with just one loss and in second place in the league.

The Eagles started the afternoon honoring four seniors for their accomplishments and contributions to the program over the last four years. Escorted by their parents, Olivia Derr, Lindsay Moyer, Leslie Messick and Elya Troup were announced separately and greeted by the coaching staff with flowers. When the first whistle blew, it was the underclassmen who took center stage offensively.

Eastern drew first blood eleven minutes into the game, when sophomore forward Yvonne Herbster dribbled into the left side of the circle and passed back to the right. A charging Kelby Bolton picked up the pass and ripped a shot that shredded through the Aggies defense and slammed into the back board. Despite a 14-1 shot advantage and ten penalty corners, the Eagles only led 1-0 at the break.

The Eagles played inspired field hockey early in the second half. Herbster started the scoring with a penalty corner goal. The Middleburg, Pa. native inserted the ball to the top of the circle to Lindsay Moyer. The senior All-American fired the ball back toward the left post where Herbster slapped the ball in on the near post to double the Eastern advantage.

The Eagles continued to pound shots on goal. Ten minutes into the second half a tipped ball got around Del Val's standout keeper and looked bound for goal, but a defender was there to stop the bouncing ball on the line, but the ball ricocheted off her feet. Bolton sailed her penalty stroke past the outstretched arms Hollis Hancock and into the top left side of the cage for her second goal of the game. Hancock finished the day with 16 saves. 

The Aggies refused to give in and picked up a goal with twenty minutes left to play to deny the Eastern bid for their third straight shut out. Rony Jacober slipped a shot off a penalty corner off the upright and in to trim the Eastern lead to 3-1.

The Eagles regrouped and began to reapply pressure. Ten minutes later, they regained their three goal lead. Brittany Moyer took a pass from Herbster on a breakaway from midfield. The freshman forward dribbled into the circle and drew the goalie out of the cage. She then pushed a backhanded pass to Katerina Tellis. Tellis pushed her shot into the open net as Moyer flew over the sprawling goalkeeper.

For the contest, the Eagles held a commanding 31-3 edge in shots and a 22-1 advantage in corners. The Eagles stretch their winning streak to eight games and finish the Freedom schedule unbeaten. Coach Azzarano was very pleased with her team's work in setting up the attack and in earning corners, but commented that her team was going to need to continue to improve on efficiency on the penalty corners to thrive in the post-season.

Eastern returns to action as the top seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament. They will play at home on November 4th. King's, Wilkes, and Delaware Valley have all qualified for the tournament, but seeding is to be determined pending several make-up games.