ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- By every statistical measure, the game should not have been close, and yet, this afternoon's women's soccer game between the visiting Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College and the host Eagles of Eastern University went to the 88th minute at 0-0. Eastern's Amy Thomas curled a beautiful left-footed strike off the inside of the back post with less than three minutes to play to lift the Eagles (3-4-1) to 1-0 home win.

Much of the first half was played in the middle of the field, but LVC was able to put three shots on goal in the opening frame. The Eagles put pressure on the Dutchman back line but were unable to get a shot on goal before half.

Lebanon Valley (4-3) turned up the pressure in the second half, but Alysia Goodman was up to the task on every occasion. The senior goalkeeper managed her box well and made six saves after intermission to keep the score knotted. The best chance of the match for either team came in the 61st minute when LVC leading scorer Nicole Snyder got in behind the Eastern back line and earned the box. The senior forward blistered a high shot that Goodman touched into the bar. Snyder took eight shots in the match.

"We are very fortunate to have a goalkeeper that can win a game," Head Coach Dan Mouw said after the match. "Not all of her saves were stunners, but she had a couple, and we know that she is going to be super-solid. We go into every contest believing that our last line of defense can be a difference for us."

On this day, it turned out that it was. Held without a shot for the entire second half, the Eagles were finally able to get possession deep in the LVC end. Kelsey Spoelstra held the ball up and dropped a pass onto Thomas's left foot. Thomas made a quick move and lifted a curling shot toward the back post. The ball hit the inside of the right upright and settled in the net for what would become the game-winner.

The Eagles' work was not yet done. Snyder powered toward the box just moments after the Eastern goal. An Eastern foul gave LVC a free kick from 23 yards out right in front of the goal. Spoelstra stood tall in the wall to block the initial blast and Lindi Crist's follow-up shot went over the bar.

"I'm not thrilled with how we played," Mouw commented, "but we have a history of being on the other side of games like this. Soccer is a funny game. You can dominate the game and not get a result. For us to get a result in a game we did not dominate is important. I am really pleased to see Amy get one. She's missed the last two games with injury and has worked really diligently to get back. John Post and Eastern's athletic training staff probably need to pick up an assist on that goal as well."

This afternoon's contest was the sixth game of the year the Eagles have played against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. It is also the third of three games against three teams that figure to be in play off contention in the Commonwealth Conference. The Eagles finish that three game series with a win, a loss, and a tie.

The Eagles have one more game before getting into the Freedom Conference schedule. Eastern will host Centenary College on Wednesday afternoon at 4.

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