ST. DAVIDS, Pa.-Soccer is about capitalizing on chances. In a an important test between two top-ranked men's soccer teams in the Freedom Conference, the visiting Misericordia Cougars made the most of their chances to beat the Eastern University Eagles 4-0.

The Eagles had chances throughout the match, but were unable to find the ciritical strike at any point. In some cases, there was failure to execute, but in other cases, Misericordia made great plays to keep the slate clean. Such was the case in the second minute of the match when J.D. Sarracco smashed a volley to the back post on an Austin Stover corner kick. The final Misericordia defender lunged to the ball and blocked the ball clear of the goal line. 

A similar situation came in the 22nd minute. John Remsburg headed a corner kick back across the face of the goal to Brandon Reichart. Reichart's header beat Misericordia goalkeeper Barry Fitzgerald, but Rob Wiacek had tracked back to the goal and headed the ball off the line. 

Josh Cirocco had a chance in the 28th minute on an Eric Giovagnoli cross, but Fitzgerald held his ground for the save. 

The Cougars had applied some moderate pressure at the Eastern goal, but had not threatened before breaking through with the critical first goal of the match in the 32nd minute. David Malaquias picked up the ball high in the Misericordia midfield and slotted a ball into wide space for Nick vonEgypt. The Cougar's top scorer reached the ball right as Remsburg arrived for a tackle and cracked a ball toward goal. The cracking shot/cross glanced off the sliding Remsberg and spun into the upper corner for a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles had another chance on their fifth corner of the match, but Fitzgerald again was in position to stop a Cirocco shot.

Misericordia (10-4, 3-1 Freedom) took advantage of a corner at the other end in the 40th minute. Chris Edkins headed home the Parker McArdle serve to give the guests a 2-0 lead.

That 2-0 lead seemed in jeopardy in the 57th minute as Giovagnoli carved out space off the right wing for a left-footed shot, but his effort skidded inches wide of the post and the lead held. Moments later, vonEgypt scored the second of his three goals on the afternoon to effectively end the game. Nick Ferguson played a bending ball in behind the Eagle back row and vonEgypt had a header attmpt from seven yards out. Eastern goalkeeper Joe Centeno guessed that von Egypt would hit it square and moved to his left. The header was far more subtle. The redirction bounced in at the far post.

The Eagles had some chances down three, but the goal never came and vonEgypt completed the hat trick on a combination off a throw in from Mark Ippolito and Malaquias.

The loss puts the Eagles (10-3-1, 2-1-1 Freedom) in a tenuous spot in the league standings with three games to play. Easch of three remaining games in the league take on new significance as Eastern seeks to return to the Freedom Conference Tournament. That journey continues at Delaware Valley College on Tuesday afternoon.