ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Prior to the afternoon's Freedom Conference Semifinal against the Wilkes University Colonels (8-6-3), Eastern Women's Soccer had only once trailed at the half. With a berth in the Freedom Conference Championship game on the line, the Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the first half, but rallied with three after the intermission to secure a spot in the final.

The Colonel's Katie Fissel touched home a long serve from Lindsay Ellis to put the Colonels up in the 22nd minute. The goal was only the third first-half goal allowed, and the first since September 17th. Fissel, who did not play in the last matchup between the two teams on Sunday night, recorded two of the Colonels four shots on the afternoon.

"She [Fissel] is a game changer for them," Eastern Head Coach Dan Mouw said after the game. "She does a lot of things to help them keep possession up top, and when I saw her in the starting line-up, I knew that could be an x-factor that we would have to process."

The Eagles (12-5-2) had several chances in the first half and held a 6-2 advantage in shots. Eastern's best chance came in the seventh minute--Tess Beckwith hit the crossbar and Charlotte Laurie's rebound effort hit a Wilkes player in front of the goal.

"We were pretty calm at the intermission," Mouw said. "We talked about trying to get into their back line with the dribble and force them to defend as individuals, and we discussed what the plan would be if we were still trailing late."

The 'Mayday' plan never had need to go into effect as Kelsey Doutrich flipped a left-footed shot into the far post from a wide position less than two minutes into the second half. The goal, her 16th of the year, gives the junior midfielder a marker in each of the last 11 games.

"Kelsey is really dialed in now," Mouw continued. "She has 16 goals on just 40 shots. That is unheard of efficiency. That goal took a lot of pressure off a lot of people out there."

The goal gave the Eagles new life, and they began to attack with the dribble in central positions. Alli Inch beat a pair of defenders and was dropped by a third to set up an Eastern free kick at the edge of the box in the 61st minute. Ashley Graybill curled a right-footed shot over the wall and into the lower corner fo the goal to give the Eagles a 2-1 edge.

Ten minutes later, it was Doutrich on the dribble. She earned the box before being upended. Bethany Engle converted the penalty kick for an important insurance goal.

The tally, the first of the senior captain's career, came on her 22nd birthday.

"Bethany has been our player to take a PK all year," Mouw said. "We just have not had one until today. She practices them regularly and was very calm. It was kind of neat that her first goal came on her birthday."

With the lead, the Eagles continued to control play and create chances to close out the match. Eastern held an 8-2 edge in second half shots.

"We have been a solid defensive team all year," Mouw concluded. "We are not used to being down early, but I think we responded very well."

Eastern, ranked ninth in the most recent NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Poll, awaits the winner of the Misericordia University vs. FDU-Florham match, which will be played at 7:00 pm. Championship times will be announced once that game goes final.

Box Score