In a game with enormous ramifications in the Freedom Conference standings, Eastern University Men's Soccer scored twice in the last fifteen minutes to hand the visiting Manhattanville Valiants their first regular season loss in Conference since 2008. The 2-0 win lifts the Eagles (8-3-1, 3-0) to the top of the Freedom Conference table with a trio of wins over playoff teams from last year. Phil Mantua and Braden Gross scored goals in the win.

Though the goals came late, the game was, in many ways decided by tactical decisions made prior to the game. The first major decision was to work to take away the play of Valiant standout Keston George. The Eastern staff elected to try to limit the effectiveness of the 2009 Conference Player of the Year with senior midfielder Ben Faro. So, throughout the game, wherever 21 in black went, #3 in white followed. Faro held the Valiants top scorer without a shot.

"Yeah, we had real good times," an exhausted Faro said afterward, "that was pretty much my day following him around. He is really good, and he didn't get many touches on the ball, so I guess it worked."

Throughout the opening period, the visiting Valiants looked to work through George, but wound up going other places to try to find an attack. While the guests held a 5-3 advantage in shots, the Eagles had the two best chances of the opening 45 minutes.

Braden Gross ran onto a long ball in the eighth minute, but Jason Torres was able to parry the hard shot wide. Brandon Reichart beat a stepping back line to Kyle Richards ball on the back post in the 39th minute, but Torres again was equal to the task with a sprawling save to his left. 

The Eastern staff felt as though things were going well, and the young home side came out of the intermission with what looked to be another golden chance. Sean Bonner's 30 yard blast slipped under Torres, but the senior net-minder was able to recover to his feet to keep the trickling rebound out of the goal. As the half progressed, the Valiants began to bring more pressure. The Eagles were able to keep the sheet clean with a combination of steady tackling and solid play from junior goalkeeper John Crowder. Crowder's presence was made more important as senior captain Kyle Hurst missed the game with injury.

"At first, I think everyone was scared," Faro said after the game, "because Kyle has been so huge for us, but Caleb [MacMain] did a great job stepping into that role." 

When Crowder turned away a great chance on a strong header from Papy Ndiaye in the 70th minute and made a strong diving save on a tight-angle shot from Erick Olazabel sixty seconds later, it looked as though the visitors had finally solved the puzzle and were going to break the game open.

The opposite thing, however, happened. With Manhattanville pressing forward, the Eagles manufactured a quality chance. 

The play originated with a dribbling run up the left side by a wide player from Manhattanville. He pushed the ball past the first defender, but Richards stepped to the ball to force a loose touch which Alex Schweitzer ran down. Schweitzer volleyed a moonshot into the Manhattanville back line. After a forty yard sprint, Gross was there to force the ball free. The Valiant defender brought Gross down just outside the box on the right side. 

"That's the second game in a row Braden has created a goal like that," Eastern Head Coach Mark Wagner said after the game, "He struggled a little in the first half, but he really lifted our level in the second half."

Faro left his mark momentarily to take the restart. His drive across the face of the goal found Mantua on the back post for what would turn out to be the game winner.

"I kept hearing, 'drive it! drive it!" Faro said, "I hit the low one into a mess of people and I thought 'Oh no, I've ruined it.' but it snuck through and Phil made sure."

Manhattanville raised the level of pressure again as they began to commit more and more numbers into the attack. Their best chance of the day skittered just wide in the 80th minute after a strong run into the box from central defender Emil Sjoberg.

With the Valiants coming forward, the game opened further. Reichart nearly found the mark on a header off a restart in the 84th minute, but Torres again turned away the effort for a corner kick.

Gross again began to leave his mark on the game as he drew fouls with persistent pressure and hard running. The junior forward's work earned its reward in the 85th minute as he darted between the Valiant back line and stole an Austin Stover lob. gross took a clean first touch and hammered home the second for his fourth goal of the year.  

The Eagles, who played eight freshmen in their rotation of 15 players, still have work to do in the conference, but have worked through what looked to be a very challenging portion of the league slate. Crowder earned commendation from his coach for his third shutout in a row. He finished with eight saves.

They will look to take another step toward returning to the post-season when they travel to DeSales on Saturday.

Box Score