DALLAS, Pa.- Eastern University Men's Soccer found itself
on the wrong side of a record-setting performance Tuesday night.
Misericordia senior Andy Bush scored three goals to set his school's
career goal and total points records, and the Eagles were unable to
earn a goal as they fell 3-0 in a rematch of last year's Freedom
Conference Championship match.
Saturday's convincing home win
over Manhattanville pushed the Eagles up a couple spots to No. 5 in the
Mid Atlantic Region rankings. The Cougars, who after tonight's win are
6-0-1 in their last seven matches, were in ninth in the region. This
evening's victory puts Misericordia (9-4-1, 3-0 Freedom) alone atop the
Freedom Conference table. The Eagles (6-3-1, 1-2 Freedom) sit in fifth
with four matches to play. Three of the Eagles' four remaining league
matches are at home on Olson Field.
After the Eagles had the first
offensive chance of the night on a Jair Saenz free kick, Bush scored
the goal that made the difference in the fourth minute. His tenth tally
of the season gave the hosts an early edge and would force the Eagles to
chase the game.
Eastern went to the attack and put pressure on
the host's goal, but Misericordia junior Billy Sopko stood tall in the
Cougar net, and the Eagles would get only three of their ten first-half
shots on frame.
Less than six minutes into the second half, Bush
took advantage of a loose ball in front of the Eastern net to give the
Cougars a 2-0 lead. He would add another tally in the waning moments of
the match for his 45th career goal.
Saturday's Homecoming match
with Wilkes becomes critically important for the Eagles as they seek to
keep themselves alive for a spot in the Freedom Conference Playoffs.
Box Score