At the start of a weekend where Eastern University athletic teams will be playing three top five opponents, #19 Eastern Field Hockey got things off to a good start with a stunning 1-0 home win over #2 Messiah College. Kelby Bolton scored the only goal of the contest on a penalty corner goal late in the first half. Senior goalie Laura Ressler made a pair of big saves to hold Messiah without a goal for the first time in a regular season game since September of 2007.

The Eagles entered the match against the team that had knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons with an interesting dilemma. An injury earlier in the week forced the Eastern staff to play without defensive standout Danielle Danser. In Danser's absence, junior captain Hope Donnelly moved into the back line next to first year defender Sarah Webb. While the two stayed busy throughout the day, the contest was clearly even from the start.

Messiah had a pair of penalty corners early, but neither team recorded a shot until the 14th minute. Eastern's Christin Haas got on the end a of sizzling cross from Brittany Moyer, but Messiah goalie Molly Gebroski saved the initial strike with a leg and was able to cover a rebound until help arrived.

With the powerful Messiah offense still held in check, the Eagles picked up their big opportunity after a couple fouls deep in the visitors territory. The third foul gave gave the Eagles their second penalty corner of the contest. Haas played the insert to Moyer at the top. Moyer drew the first defender to her before flicking the ball right to her fellow Christopher Dock grad. Bolton gathered the pass and floated a high shot over everyone for her first tally of the year.

"I'm more confident with my lifts than with driving the ball right now, " Bolton explained, "I have to make sure they are a safe distance away, but if they are I can put a shot on that only the goalie can block. I was wide open on the first one [penalty corner] so I thought that it would be open again."

The Eagles held a 3-0 edge in shots at the half, but the 2009 National Runners-Up were not ready to be done. Messiah put the pressure on immediately out of the break, and it looked like the visitors were going to draw level on a penalty corner just 90 seconds into the second frame. Sarah Webb, however, had other ideas. The first year from San Diego. Sprawled on the goal line to block an Amber Good strike that had slid behind Ressler.

"On the penalty corners, "Webb explained, " Laura charges and I am supposed to be there I saw the shot coming and I just prayed. I stopped in clean and Laura got back to cover it up." 

After the initial surge, the Eagles were able to get an even amount of possession and held the visitors to a handful of shots. They also had a pair of great scoring chances denied deep in the circle by a charging Gebroski.

"I am so proud of the girls," Azzarano explained, "without Dani we had to make some big adjustments, and they brought a great mental frame of mind to the day. Laura [Ressler] was great today."

In terms of national rankings, the win is the biggest win in the history of Eastern University Athletics. Other Eastern teams will look to turn the historical moment into a trend as they take on highly ranked teams this weekend as well. Sixteenth ranked Volleyball plays at #5 Colorado College this Friday, and #24 Women's Soccer is at #3 TCNJ this Sunday.

Eastern Field Hockey returns to action on Tuesday with a match-up with another ranked squad in TCNJ.