ST. DAVIDS, Pa - Eastern University Women's Soccer team beat the visiting Stockton University Ospreys 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles used two second half goals to earn the victory.

"Today's game was a big game for us in terms of gathering confidence against a quality team," said Head Coach Dan Mouw. "We have been working on patience and composure through the midfield for much of the past week and a half, and I felt like that patience gave us the possession we needed to find our goals." 

The match started out as a back and forth battle with each team trying to earn the advantage. Sia Kontanis had an opportunity in the tenth minute to give Eastern (3-5) the lead, but her shot whistled wide of the mark. The Ospreys (6-2) answered right back with two chances of their own, but neither were on target. 

Alondra Cervantes put a dangerous header on net in the 39th minute, but Stockton keeper Nicole Pallente was in postion to make the stop and keep the score level.

Cervantes had another opportunity early the second half. In the 48th minute, Cervantes ripped a shot on net but once again Pallante was there to deny the attempt.

In the 61st minute Emily Cole put header inches wide. Eleven minutes later, Cole had a different outcome. Cervantes played a ball into the space behind the back row. Cole beat her defender to the ball and flipped a ball toward the crossbar. Pallante got a hand to the ball, but the shot crossed the line just under the bar to give Cole the 40th tally  of her career. She is now tied for 6th on Eastern's career goal list.

"Just before halftime Emily Cole sprinted three distinct times to pressure their team after a corner kick," continue Mouw. "She put forward a ton of effort today and was rewarded with a quality chance for goal. She did not waste it."

Cervantes stretched the lead on a penalty kick in the 78th minute. Nicole Weenink was fouled in the box on a breakaway attempt. Cervantes buried the shot for her second of the year and a 2-0 lead. 

"I was very proud of Nicole's effort up front as well," stated Mouw. "She pressed all day and earned the penalty kick with hard work." 

Eastern had to withstand one more test in the 79th minute to earn the victory. Three different Osprey players had opportunities from close range, but Lydia Peachey held her post on the line and after one shot hit the post turned away three chances away before the Eagles finally cleared the ball.

"We are back to work tomorrow to try to get a little bit better for Alvernia and then the conference season coming up," concluded Mouw.

Overall, Eastern took ten shots placing five on net while Stockton took nine of their own. Adrianna Rowlands and Leah Lozzi combined to make one save and post the Eagles third clean sheet of the season. 

Eastern plays at Alvernia at 11 a.m. on Saturday.