ST.DAVIDS,Pa.- The visiting College at Florham Devils scored three times in a twenty minute span in the first half and held on to top Eastern University Women's Soccer 3-1 in the regular season finale for both teams. With the loss, the Eagles miss conference post-season play for the first time in 13 years.

Prior to the match, the Eastern program took a moment to honor Michelle Brown as the lone senior in the program. Brown, a four-year player, scored the game-winner in the Eagles win at Delaware Valley College to help the Eagles keep their playoff hopes alive.

The match was set as essentially an elimination game for one of the two teams. The Eagles needed a win to qualify as the fourth seed. The Devils, who would have qualified fourth with a tie, have a chance at the third seed based on results of this evening's contest.

Needing a win, the Eagles needed to carry the game. Eastern had good possession early but ran into trouble as the Devils took possession and found a counterattacking chance. Samantha Messina pushed the ball inside and ripped an 18 yard shot inside the left upright for a lead.

Seconds later, the Eagles had a chance to draw level on a corner kick. Laura Martin laced a dangerous ball into the scoring area that FDU goalkeeper Annie George had to parry away from a pair of Eastern attackers. The ball went toward the goal line, but George was able to collect it on the line to keep the Eagles off the board.

The Devils doubled their edge on a big cross to the back post in the 22nd minute. Jennifer DiGiola swung the ball in from the right side. Messina hit a crisp volley back across face off Michelle Hickey and into the goal. 

"I think that second goal took some of the wind out of our sails," head coach Dan Mouw said after the match. "I think we still had belief until that point. Credit needs to go to the FDU team. Their seniors made big plays to take control of the game. "

FDU scored a third goal in the 27th minute. Claire Donohue received a throw in near the top of the box and muscled her way toward goal. Her left-footed shot curled inside the back post for a 3-0 edge.

"We went to the 'Mayday Plan' in the second half, Mouw added, " but they, as they should have, dropped numbers behind the ball to force our players to beat them from distance."

The Eagles created chances but could not get one past George until Elisa DiRenzo's left-footed blast hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the top of the net in the 88th minute. 

"We felt that we needed to find one in the first 15 minutes of the half to make it interesting," Mouw said, " we had several really good chances in the first five minutes as Lydia Peachey, Emily Cole, and Laura Martin each narrowly missed chances. Cait Mitchell hit the underside of the crossbar in the 78th minute.

Eastern took eleven shots in the second half. 

"I am grateful for Michelle's leadership in our program," Mouw finished, "and it is tough to see the season come to a close today, but we expect great things from her as she goes on. We played the entire year with a very young team. I believe that the core of this group will draw upon the experience of a tough season to raise the program back up to where we expect to be."