ST. DAVIDS, Pa.--Junior forward Kelsey Doutrich returned to the Eagles' lineup Thursday and provided an immediate impact, scoring her second goal of the year in the 33rd minute.

The Eagles only needed that one goal, topping Alvernia University 1-0.

After Eagles' midfielder Michelle Brown crossed the ball into the box, an Alvernia defender attempted to clear it, but Julie Salerno won the ball about twenty yards out, kneeing it towards the middle of the box. Kelsey Doutrich got into position, placed the header, sending the ball off goalie Julie Dearie's fingertips for the goal. Salerno earned her first assist on the play.

Eastern head coach Dan Mouw praised the play of Doutrich and Brown after the game. "It was great to see Kelsey back on the field again today; we've missed her over the past several games," he said. "We're really happy that she was able to get back and get the game winner for us in some limited action today."

He added, "Michelle Brown provided us with great energy and an attacking spirit that helped change the game at a critical time."

The Eagles outshot the Crusaders 13 to five. One of the Eagles' shots came at the 72-minute mark when goalie Alysia Goodman left the goal to take the kick after a foul. She cranked the ball just over the crossbar, her sixth shot attempt this season.

Mouw emphasized the need for intensity in the attack. "I felt like we played well in spurts and we got some valuable contributions off our bench. The challenge of the game for us today was keeping our intensity level high,  I'm not sure we met that challenge perfectly, but we were able to execute well enough and keep our backline together to hold onto the game."

The Eagles look to win back-to-back games this season for the first time as they travel to Lebanon Valley College Saturday.

Box Score