ST. DAVIDS, Pa.–Again, it was not overtime. Eastern University Men's Soccer did not need extra time to earn a hard-fought 1-0 win over the visiting Swarthmore College Garnet (3-3). The team did, however, need the full 90 minutes. Jadon Ramsing scored his first goal of the year with 51 seconds on the clock to lift the Eagles (5-0-1) to a 1-0 home win.

The two local teams had not played since 2008, and the beginning of the match was very deliberate. Both teams explored match-ups to try to find opportunities, but neither team was willing to give away any cheap chances. Swarthmore's Wyatt McCall recorded the game's first shot in the 27th minute. The Garnet had a 4-2 advantage in shots at the intermission. Quentin Keibler made two saves before the break.

The game took a different turn right after the half. Josh Cirocco had a great chance from the top of the box in the 50th minute and Omri Gal tested Keibler in the 51st. Shortly thereafter, the Garnet earned a free kick just outside the Eastern box. With Keibler looking into the setting sun, McCall bent a right footed strike around the wall and off the outside of the right upright. 

Ninety seconds later, Keibler spoiled the best chance of the match for Swarthmore. Gal created the opportunity with a dribbling run on the left side. He slotted a pass into central space that Billy Evers redirected toward the upper corner. Keibler parried it around the post and the Eagles defended two consecutive corners to keep the game knotted at zero.

As the half progressed, both teams called on their benches to keep the pace of the game high. The Eastern coaching staff felt that the work put in by their depth up front and in the middle helped to contribute to creating late chances, and ultimately, the game-winner. 

The chance began when Cirocco earned a restart with a hard run on the left side. With the two Eastern central defenders forward, Hunter Rosenberg served the ball into the box. The Garnet defense made a partial clear back to Rosenberg's side. Rosenberg played the ball backwards to Xavier Young, and the Eagles swung the ball away from pressure and up the right side. All the while, Ramsing lurked near the top of the box. 

Andrew Ferman won possession on the wing and battled through a foul toward the edge of the box. The center official allowed play to continue and Ferman escaped pressure long enough to hoist a cross toward the back post. Cade Harmon made a diving attempt for a header at the six, but the ball flew just long. Ramsing reached the ball in time and cracked a left-footed shot back against the grain for the winning goal. 

The Eagles had to fend off two balls into the box to close the match, but Keibler and the Eastern back row stood their ground for their fourth shutout of the year. 

The Eagles entered today's game ranked fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Region. They host Centenary College at two on Saturday.