ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Senior midfielder Ashley Graybill scored her first goal of the year in the 55th minute, and the Eastern University defense held up to lift Eastern University Women's Soccer to a 1-0 home win over the Manhattanville College Valiants.

Eastern had nearly all the play in the opening half of play, but the Eagles were unable to finish any of their chances. Eastern had  three corner kicks and a number of good free-kick chances around the box. The Eagles' best chance of the opening period came in the 27th minute after a short clear from the Valiants was picked off and sent back in behind their back line. Kelsey Doutrich's first-time shot slipped just wide of the right upright.

Manhattanville's one shot in the first half came on a looping shot from distance by first year midfielder Rebecca Brevé the Alysia Goodman handled easily. Goodman came into the Manhattnaville box in the closing seconds of the first half for a corner kick, but she was unable to get her header on goal.

Corner kicks, as it turned out, became the story of the second half. Eight minutes into the period the Eagles earned four straight corners. Each corner put the Valiant defense under more pressure until finally Ashley Graybill hooked a ball in off the top of the back post. Graybill scored the same way just over a year ago at King's College.

"We spent time working on corners yesterday in practice." Head Coach Dan Mouw stated, "We knew they were going to be tough and well-organized in the run of play, but that we might have an advantage if we could get bodies in the box on restarts. We don't expect that ball to go in, but when you get four in a row, something good has to happen."

The Eagles, (7-4-1, 2-0 Freedom) had several chances to double the lead, but the opportunities went unfinished, and the Valiants stayed within striking distance. That nearly paid off for the visitors (5-6, 1-1 Freedom) when Brevé found her way behind the Eastern back line and in alone on Goodman. The left-footed freshman pulled Goodman across to the near post before serving a ball across the face for Christie DeMarco. Her shot from close range hit off the left upright before the Eastern defense converged to clear the ball out of danger.

The win is the fifth straight for the Eagles and puts them in a three-way tie atop the Freedom Conference with Misericordia and Wilkes. Eastern will travel to Misericordia on Wednesday before hosting Wilkes next Saturday.

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