PURCHASE, N.Y.– Eastern University Women's Soccer scored three times in a five minute stretch in the first half to open MAC Freedom play with a win at Manhattanville College. Emily Cole scored a pair of goals to lead the Eastern attack.

Eastern (4-6-1, 1-0 MAC Freedom) came into the day in a a bit of an offensive slump. They were hoping that a new page on the calendar might be part of the answer.  The Eagles looked ready to break out of their three-game drought from the outset. Cole missed just wide after getting on the end of a beautifully weighted through ball from Katy Laurie in the first minute of play.

Hanna Kontanis put the Eagles on the board with a nice volley from the top of the box in the 10th minute of the game. Courtney Davis started the action with a long serve in from the right side. Kontanis gathered the ball and floated over the onrushing goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.

Four minutes later Cole picked up a pass outside the top of the box. The junior forward beat a pair of defenders with a strong dribble and pushed the ball wide of the charging goalkeeper. Cole then placed the ball into the empty net from a little bit of a steep angle. Seventy seconds later, Cole finished the scoring with her tenth of the year from close range off a beautiful cross from Hannah Bomberger.

"Hannah did great work on that goal," head coach Dan Mouw said of the play. "We have been working with her to gain confidence earning the edge. She played center back last year, so she is relearning a position she grew up playing. Em did well to find a little bit of finishing space and Hannah put in the right spot."

The Eagles had several other chances in the first half but were unable to stretch the lead further. The Valiants (3-5, ,0-1 MAC Freedom) had their best chance of the half go off the post just as time was expiring. The Eagles had a 6-3 edge in shots through the opening 45 minutes.

Bomberger had two great chances in the first twenty minutes of the second half. Dolores Diemicke, the Valiant keeper, made a relatively easy save on the first chance and then came up with a sparkling reaction save to rob Bomberger on the second one-vs.one chance.

Adrianna Swinehart secured her first career shutout with a diving save on a breakaway in the 88th minute.

"We appreciate the importance of earning road wins in the conference." Mouw concluded. "I was pleased with the effort of the whole team today."

The Eagles host Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday afternoon.