EDWARDSVILLE, Pa.-- Eastern University Women's Soccer
scored three first-half goals in the first half to secure a 3-0 win over
the Wilkes University Colonels in the regular season finale for
both teams. The Eagles (11-5-2, 7-1 Freedom) secured the second seed in
the upcoming Freedom Conference Championship. Eastern will host the same
Colonels at a to be determined time on Wednesday.
Kelsey Doutrich opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Ashley
Graybill served a free kick toward the top of the box. Charlotte Laurie
redirected the serve into space behind the Wilkes' backline for
Doutrich who knocked home her 15th goal of the year. The goal would hold
up for the junior midfielder's fourth straight game winner.
The Eagles nearly doubled the score three minutes later when Laurie
hit the inside of the right upright with a curling shot from 25 yards
out. Tess Beckwith's rebound effort went just wide.
Backwith converted a second chance only seconds later when Doutrich
played a ball into space from the midfield. Beckwith outraced the
Colonial back line and dribbled around a charging goalkeeper before
slotting home a right footed shot.
Michelle Brown made the lead three with a short tap-in of a rebound
of a Kristine Zeiset cross into the scoring area. Zeiset set up the
cross with a clever move on the endline.
The Eagles had an 11-3 edge in shots and a 7-1 edge in corners through the intermission.
Head Coach Dan Mouw was very pleased with his team's performance through the first half.
"We really wanted to start the post-season at home," he said,"our
midfield really set the tone from the start. Bethany [Engle], Ash
[Graybill], and Al [Alli Inch] were really clean, and Kelsey is finding a
way. Our attentiveness and energy were really good. We will need to match that on Wednesday."
Alysia Goodman made three saves in each half to secure her ninth shutout of the year.
The Colonels (8-5-3, 4-1-2 Freedom) and Eagles will play on Wednesday
in St. Davids. League semifinals for both the Freedom and Commonwealth
Conferences were pushed back a day after both leagues saw contests
pushed to Monday.
Misericordia will host FDU-Florham in the other Semifinal.
Box Score
