ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.- On a breezy day in Central Pennsylvania, Eastern University Women's Soccer scored first but settled for a tie at Elizabethtown College. Eastern goalkeeper Alysia Goodman made her mark on the match with nine saves and a goal.

The Eagles (2-3-1) took the wind in the opening half, but they struggled to use the steady wind to their advantage through much of the first 45 minutes. The host Blue Jays (3-0-3) had more of the ball and were able to release six shots on goal and nine total shots in the opening frame. Despite the lack of possession, the Eagles had a couple good chances early. Michelle Brown connected with a Kelsey Doturich cross a the near post, but her shot sailed just high. Doutrich had a good look from inside the box that Etown's Jess Manchak was able to corral.

The match looked to be going to intermission scoreless, but a Blue Jay defender was called for a foul trying to win a ball on a Goodman drop kick and the Eagles were awarded a free kick about 35 yards from goal with just under 40 seconds to play. Goodman, who played several games at forward in her freshman season, came forward to take the restart. The ball cleared the wall and seemed to be on its way up when it tagged the upper corner of the goal.

"Alysia is a great ball-striker," Head Coach Dan Mouw related, "and that situation is perfect for her. There was not enough time that she had to worry about a counter-attack, but there was enough time where she could take a deep breath and hit it. I was just hoping that with the wind at her back that she could keep it under the bar."

Eastern gathered more possession after the intermission, and Kelsey Spoelstra rolled a ball inches wide of the right upright less than three minutes into the period. The Blue Jays found the equalizer on a ball served to the top of the box that Laura Wingart flicked into space for Trisha Clark. Goodman got a finger on Clark's volley to the left side  of the goal, but the shot was struck very well and from too close. 

Both teams had chances to break the draw, but neither team was able to find the game-winner. Victoria Graham's redirect of an Ashley Graybill restart in the 75th minute caught the top of the cross bar, and Graybill's 20 yard effort in the 98th minute went wide.

"This was a good test for us," Mouw related, "they are a good young team with speed and skill. To play them tough on their surface (grass) is an important step. We will have to take another big step on Wednesday."

The Eagles are back in action at Messiah College on Wednesday night.