HAVERFORD, Pa.- Eastern University Women's Soccer scored two-second half goals to earn a tie with the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles in the opening game of the Haverford Invitational. While the game goes in the books as a tie, the Eagles won the penalty kick shootout 4-2 to advance to the tournament championship game against Haverford tomorrow at 1 pm.

The Golden Eagles (1-0-1) had the better of play early and spent much of the first 20 minutes in the Eastern end. That pressure resulted in two goals. The first came on a long shot after an Eastern turnover in the 11th minute. The Golden Eagles doubled their lead in the 14th minutes on a rebound of a ball off the crossbar.

"We did not have a lot going for us early," Head Coach Dan Mouw said, "both their goals came when they took advantage of our mistakes. They put us on our heels at the start. and we really struggled to get anything going."

Momentum began to shift for the Eagles just after the midpoint of the first half, but Brockport still held a 14-5 edge in shots at the intermission.

"Our halftime conversation was all about attitude," Mouw continued, "this team has had a great attitude and competitive fire in the early going of the year and the coaching staff really challenged them to take a much aggressive posture in the game."

The second half began with Eastern getting the ball deep in the Golden Eagles' zone from the start. Emily Cole picked up a loose ball 95 seconds into the half and ripped a 20 yard shot into the top of the net for her third goal of the season.

"That goal changed everything," Mouw continued, "With this young team, we are looking to find ways to believe in ourselves, and there was a new commitment to matching Brockport's intensity from that moment on."

The intensity in the midfield rose as the game progressed, and the Eagles picked up the chance they would need in the 75th minute. Cole earned a free kick just outside the box . Caroline Lozzi drilled a low shot that a defender parried off the top of the six. Hannah Bomberger was in the perfect spot. The junior midfielder delivered a solid one-time shot for her first collegiate goal.

Mouw noted that the play was not exactly what the team had drawn up, but that the execution of what they did do was exactly right. He said, "Caroline had an excellent day for us overall. She hits a really heavy ballon those restarts, and we know that there are likely to be rebounds. Hannah was right there to put it away." Bomberger spent her first two seasons as a central defender, but has moved into the midfield for her junior year.

Brockport's Chelsea Stahl hit the near post with a hard shot in the 95th minute, and Cole had a great strike from distance sail just high in the 105th, but neither team could net the game-winner. Lozzi, Cole, and Bomberger made their PKs and first year goalkeeper Adrianna Swinehart stopped a Brockport kick and watched another go high. Courtney Davis finished the shootout with a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.

Swinehart started the game and played the first half and the shootout in goal. Jules Leco played the second half and overtime in goal. They each made four saves.

The Eagles play at Haverford tomorrow at 1 pm and will play in their home opener against Cabrini on Wednesday.