Eastern University Women's Soccer scored a goal in each half to beat Centenary College 2-0 in day one action at the TCNJ Adidas Classic. Tess Beckwith and Ashley Graybill scored for the 24th ranked Eagles.

Eastern held most of the play in the early going, but that play did not translate into a tally until the 30th minute. Kristine Zeiset set up the play with a strong run off the left side. As the junior midfielder made a move toward the box, a Cyclone defender caught her heel and the official awarded a restart just outside the box. Zeiset blasted a low shot to the right of the wall that Centenary goalkeeper Ashley Denti pushed away, but Beckwith was in the right spot to claim the rebound for her third goal of the year.

Before the break, the Eagles held a 6-1 advantage in shots. 

Centenary earned a couple opportunities early in the second half, but Sam Vanni's shot went wide and an offside run nullified another chance. Following the shaky start, the Eagles righted the ship and began to control play through the midfield and into the attacking end. Beckwith asserted her presence in the match with several darting runs in behind. She fired six second half shots only to have a pair turned away by Denti and another couple roll just wide.

"Tess was very hard for them to pin down in the second half, " Coach Mouw commented, "We function very well with her as a mobile presence in the top of the field. I felt her work rate was outstanding and that she created chances throughout the half. She and Kelsey [Doutrich] are very different players, but they are really starting to get a feel for each other."  

In the 82nd minute, Doutrich created the chance for the second goal with a spinning move just over thirty-five yards from goal. Her defender had no choice but to drag her down, and the official again made the call. Graybill confirmed with the official that the kick was direct before approaching the ball. She then cracked a blast into the upper few inches of the net. The goal is the first collegiate goal for the sophomore midfielder.

"Ash is a tremendous ball striker, " Mouw stated, "the ball explodes of her foot, and we told the team before the game to look at the top part of the goal on restarts. She put it right where it needed to be."

The win lifts the Eagles to 4-0 for the first time in the history of the program. The Eastern women are back in action at TCNJ tomorrow. They will play second ranked TCNJ in what amounts to the Championship game of the TCNJ Classic.

Box Score