ANNVILLE, Pa.- Headed into this afternoon's MAC contest at Lebanon Valley College (3-4, 1-1 MAC), the Eastern University lacrosse coaches knew that their squad would be tested by a young and talented Dutchmen side. The hosts did not disappoint, but the Eagles (3-3, 2-0 MAC) were able to hold on for a hard-fought 5-3 win. Shawn Farmer and Will Johnson each scored twice in the victory.

From the start, the game was about patience and possession. After 12 minutes without any score, the Eagles struck first. Farmer did the damage as he grabbed the rebound of a Dave Darling shot and popped it in for his fourth of the year. The Eagles held the 1-0 lead at the end of a first quarter that had only seven total shots.

The Dutchmen drew level on a CJ Adams strike early in the second period before Will Johnson scored both his goals in a two-minute stretch late in the half. The sophomore midfielder scored his first on a roll from behind the crease. After faking high, he dropped the shot low. On his second tally, Johnson dodged the alley to his left hand and fired a strong shot just inside the far pipe. The Eagles held a 10-7 advantage in shots at the intermission. 

Farmer made it 4-1 five minutes into the second half, but the hosts won the next two face-offs and converted that possession into a pair of Matt Roupe goals. The second came on a man-up chance.

The Eagles won the next two face-off, but they were unable to build on their one-goal advantage until Zac Ivy delivered a highlight reel goal in an unsettled situation five minutes into the final period. While being checked away from the goal, he caught everyone off guard with a behind the head shot for his third tally of the year.

Moments later, Travis Park made what his head coach called the play of the game with a tough ground ball pick-up between two attackers. The first year midfielder then ran to space and finished the clear. 

"Those two plays," Head Coach Brandon Childs said, "were a snapshot, in about thirty seconds, if somebody walked up to our game and saw those mintues they would have to say, 'man, Eastern must practice hard,' I think Travis's play won the game for us today. That sealed it."

With the two-goal edge, the Eagles were able to finish the game without giving up another goal. Aaron Benz made three of his six saves in the final period. Two of those came when the game was 4-3.

"We stayed the course," Childs commented, "I was really pleased with our discipline and defense in the game. It was one of those gmaes that you have to grind out, and the guys did. I thought Cassidy was great against their top scorer and we made good decisions throughout."

The Eagles return to action at Manhattanville College on Wednesday March 30.

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