Though they held possession for most of the game, and a commanding 23-5 edge in shots, the Eastern women's soccer team needed all three goals to escape with a 3-2 win. Jill DiRenzo scored a pair of goals to lead the Eagles.
Despite struggling to connect early, the Eagles jumped to an early 1-0 lead on a nice combination out of the midfield. Lauren Roe took a negative ball just inside the center circle and placed a through ball over top of Cabrini's back line. DiRenzo timed her run perfectly and got to the ball just outside the penalty box. Her first-time right-footed shot found the back of the net on a fly.
That lead, however was short-lived as the Cavaliers send the ensuing kick-off deep into Eastern territory, where they were able to earn a corner kick. The visitors from across the road had just one corner kick for the afternoon, but they made it count as Sammy Thompson redirected a Heather Thompson serve at the near post to knot the game on Cabrini's only shot of the first half.
The Eagles responded with increased pressure and a barrage of shots, but Cabrini first year keeper Maddy Edwards was equal to the task with several great saves. She would finish the match with fifteen saves. She twice robbed Tess Beckwith. The first came on a good high save on a shot from the right, and the second came on a great diving grab of a low volley just outside the six.
The Eagles finally solved the puzzle in the thirty-sixth minute when first year back Cara Dembrosky earned the edge on the left side and whipped a ball toward the face of the goal. Edwards got a touch on the cross, but the ball popped up and Aly Goodman was on the spot to head home the first goal her college career.
Out of the break, the Eagles played some of their best soccer of the year. Eastern fired eight shots in the first fifteen minutes of the half, but was unable to increase the lead until late in the 62nd minute. Much like the first goal, the action started in the midfield with quality ball movement. Allie Inch received a negative ball and slid a perfectly weighted touch through for DiRenzo. The senior forward calmly knocked home her sixth of the year and 49th career tally.
Coach Mouw commented on Eastern's play in the second half stating, "We did a great job possessing with purpose in the second half. I felt like our activity led to quality chances, and while we came up a little short in the finishing category, I was really pleased with our intensity to open the half. Bethany [Engle] and Allie [Inch] were really dynamic getting into dangerous positions in the box."
The Cavaliers grabbed a goal back in the 68th minute on their second shot on goal for the match. Dana Drake lifted a long cross from the right side to Annmarie Kolla. Kolla made a strong move to push the ball back to her right foot and blasted a strong shot from eight yards out.
Mouw was displeased with the defensive lapses, but is pleased that his group was able to keep the Cavaliers away from goal for the remainder of the contest. He said, "We had two bad breakdowns in concentration, and they capitalized. We will continue to learn and adjust. We were so intent on going forward, that I think we lost focus in defending for a bit. We were able to sort things in the end."
The young Eastern squad will have a week to workout some of the lapses as they do not play again until next Wednesday evening at Franklin and Marshall College.
