ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern Women's Lacrosse notched its second consecutive victory defeating visiting Delaware Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, 16-15. Junior midfielder Anna Charlebois scored six times to help the Eagles secure their second MAC Freedom win.

Over the course of the game, the Eagles trailed by two goals five different times, but they rallied back each time to tie or take the lead. They placed 24 shots on goal and won 19 of 33 draw controls.

"Today's conference win at home was very important for our team," said Head Coach Kim Campbell. "The atmosphere was just elation afterwards. To be able to stay in that game over and over again and then take a lead and hold for the win was vital."   

Delaware Valley (5-7, 0-4 MAC Freedom)  scored in the first five minutes of the game and built a 3-1 lead twelve minutes into the game. Stephanie Hogan scored her first of four goals to tie the score at 1-1 in the seventh minute of the contest.

The Eastern offense went to work in the final 20 minutes of the first period. Charlebois netted her first of the day scoring less than 15 seconds after the Aggies' third goal to cut the deficit to just one. Alex Imperatore then scored her first goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3 with just over 17 and a half minutes left to play in the first half.

"I think the girls really stayed focused on possession and what they needed to do to get the ball," continued Campbell. "Whether that be get a check, get a knockdown, force a turnover, or get a groundball, they did it."

After Delaware Valley took another two goal, lead the teams exchanged goals but Eastern never was able to get on a scoring run keeping the deficit at two. The Eagles would tack on two goals in the final 45 seconds of the first half to pull even with the Aggies heading into the locker rooms. Charlebois tallied her third of the half to pull the Eagles within one. It looked like the score was going to stay that way until Julie Haggan finished off a pass from Hogan to net her first of the day to tie the game at 8-8 with 14 seconds left to go in the half.    

The second half opened up as a back and forth battle with each team scoring twice in the opening seven and a half minutes to keep the score deadlocked at 10-10. Charlebois gave Eastern a slim, 12-11, lead when she scored on a man-up opportunity. The Aggies came right back, however, netting three in a row to retake the lead, 14-12, with just under nine minutes left to play in the game.

"I credit a lot to Anna's leadership, but I think being smart with the ball today is what Anna did," stated Campbell. "If we needed a goal she scored, if we needed to possess the ball she got out of trouble and worked the ball around to her teammates. Her ability as a lacrosse a player showed today."   

Charlebois sparked the comeback for the Eagles as they scored three straight and four of the final five goals of the game to earn the win. Charlebois bookended the scoring starting the goal spree and then tallied the game-winner with just over two minutes left to play to make the score final at 16-15.  

"I think that this win does a lot for us," concluded Campbell. "It keeps us in the running to earn a postseason berth, and this was a stepping stone in that direction. We will be playing three strong teams in our conference down the stretch. So today to be able to come back as a team and be down numerous times will enable us to be confident in the games moving forward."  

Eastern (4-10, 2-1 MAC Freedom) travels to FDU-Florham on April 23rd for a 1 pm game.