The 23rd ranked Eastern University women's soccer team finished up a slate of six straight games away from home with a lightning-shortened 1-1 draw at Swarthmore College. The game entered an extended delay with 51 seconds remaining in the 1st overtime period and never resumed. As the match has eclipsed the 70 minute mark, it is deemed to be official.

With impending weather on the way, both teams seemed eager to strike first as the opening period was wide open with chances for both sides. The host Garnet launched several off target shots before the first intermission, but they were most dangerous on their series of corner kick plays. The Eastern defense turned away all five first half corners.

"We had stretches in the first half, "Coach Mouw said, "where we looked really good. We found players in space and created chances, but when we lost the ball, they did a very good job of making us work defensively." At the intermission, the emphasis for the Eastern players was working short and winning the ball back more quickly. 

That extra focus made a difference out of the half as the Eagles put their hosts under pressure with good possession early in the half. Eastern earned a pair of corners just over midway through the second frame. Neither corner resulted directly in a goal, but Ashley Graybill's second corner swung in deep and put the Garnet on their heels. The ball rolled out to Katie Ruth who flipped a beautifully textured pass to the back post for Alli Inch. Inch had only to settle the ball and slot it home for a 1-0 lead.

Eastern nearly doubled the edge seconds later as Bethany Engle cracked a one time shot from the top of the box that Marie Mutryn parried wide with a big dive to the top left corner. The Eagles sustained tremendous pressure for the next ten minutes, but the second goal remained elusive.

The lead only lasted until the 82nd minute when Swarthmore capitalized on a scramble in front of the net after a restart from 35 yards out. Aly Passanante slid the equalizer inside the right upright.  As the game approached the overtime a fierce wind began to develop running the length of the field. Following the Swarthmore goal, the Eagles had about nine minutes with the wind to find the game-winner, but several opportunities in tight went unfinished as the Garnet defense stood tall.

The wind kicked up another notch for the overtime period. The Eagles, however, were headed into the wind for what they thought would be the first ten minutes. As it turned out, they did not get the final minutes with the wind in before the lightning started. 

Graybill took the best chance of extra time early in the period. The sophomore midfielder cracked a left-footed half-volley from 12 yards out, but Mutryn made the initial save and pounced on the rebound.

"We would have loved to have played the game to the end," Mouw said, "we think we would have won, and I am sure they think they would have. It was that kind of game. It was a very good test for us to finish up our stretch of road games here."

The Eagles (5-1-1) return home for the first time since their opener on Saturday. They will play Lebanon Valley College on Olson Field at noon.