After six consecutive games away from home, Eastern University Women's Soccer was looking forward to returning to the friendly confines of Olson Field for Saturday's game against Lebanon Valley. The return did not go as planned as the 23rd ranked Eagles were unable to capitalize on myriad opportunities in the first half and surrendered three second half strikes to fall to 5-2-1 on the year.

While the Eagles clearly had the run of play in the opening frame, they only put two of their ten shots on frame. Lebanon Valley starting keeper Bekah Sykes cut away several crosses and turned away both on target efforts. Lebanon Valley did not record a shot through the first half, but their solid defending stymied the Eastern attack. 

Perhaps more troubling for home squad was the unexpected departure of starting goalkeeper Aly Goodman. The sophomore standout was feeling ill in the blazing heat before the game and had to leave in the 28th minute. That loss would prove to be more difficult in the second half when the Eagles were forced to play into a continually freshening breeze.

"Aly has a great presence about her in the goal," Eastern Head Coach Dan Mouw said, "her ability to play the ball with her feet and to distribute over distance gives us confidence and helps us to get out of our end in difficult times."

The second half moved more into the midfield to start, but as time passed the visitors began to make deeper forays into the Eastern end. Lebanon Valley took advantage of their first shot at goal when Nicole Snyder connected on her third of the year on a long throw from Katie Deardorff in the 64th minute.

Lebanon Valley added two more goals as the Eagles made the attempt to push numbers forward in the latter part of the game. Heather Tran scored on a long restart from Ely Kirkhoff in the 85th minute and Lauren King scored scored from Lindi Crist just sixty seconds later.

"We had to try something to earn the equalizer," Mouw said, " and we left a gap in the back that they found. The big key to this game, however, was the first half. If we put away our chances in the first half, then we can weather the storm a bit in the second half. We got caught in our own end for too much time in the second half."

The Eagles will look to rebound on Wednesday at Moravian College.