Eastern University Athletics

ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- For the first time this fall, Eastern University Women's Soccer dropped a game at home. The visiting Misericordia University Cougars scored four times in a seven minute stretch in the first half to pull away to a 4-1 win. Alondra Cervantes scored Eastern's lone goal.

The Eagles (5-5-3, 2-1 MAC Freedom) were 3-0-1 on Olson Field this fall.

That run of success at home was put in jeopardy early as the No. 19 Cougars had a pair of shots and a couple dangerous restarts in the first five minutes. The Cougar pressure turned into a goal when Jackie Stevens found space at the top of the box and ripped a shot to the lower left corner in the seventh minute.

Three minutes later, the Eagles had earned some sustained pressure up the field. With the Eagles on the attack, the Cougars converted a turnover into a goal on a long pass from Amber Hartranft to Ashley Edgell whose first-time shot ticked the inside of the left upright as it crossed the line.

Three minutes later, it was Hartranft's turn as she tapped in a ball on the back post after a short corner. The Cougars converted yet another corner in the 14th minute for their final goal of the run and of the game. 

Through the second half, the Eagles had more of the play, and Nicole Wennink created several chances running up the left wing. The Eagles converted after a foul near midfield and a good switching pass from Courtney Davis to Katy Laurie on the right wing. Laurie sliced a pass back into the scoring area where a Misericordia defender upended Caroline Lozzi for a penalty kick.

Cervantes converted the kick at the hour mark.

The Eagles had one more great chance to score, but Lozzi's one-time effort on a Weenink cross in the 84th minute spun wide.

"I thought we brought fight and grit for 90 minutes," Head Coach Brandon West said after the match,  "We risked our heart today. I am proud of our effort. To give up early goals and to still fight is a hard choice, and they made that choice today. If we play like that for the rest of the season we will be in games."

The Eagles are currently tied for third with DeSales in the MAC Freedom. The team has four MAC Freedom matches remaining with all four teams left in contention for a playoff spot. They will host FDU-Florham at noon on Saturday.