WILKES-BARRE, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer locked up a spot in the MAC Freedom Tournament with a 2-1 come-from-behind win at King's College.

The host Monarchs (10-4-1, 4-1 MAC Freedom) scored in the third minute on a long ball from the wing that slid inside the far post. The early goal put the onus on the Eagles to push the tempo in the match.

"We have won a lot of one-goal games in the last 3 years." Head Coach Jeremy Payne said. "I think it says a lot about our team and their character. I think tonight shows that if we get scored on first that we have the quality to get back in the game." Including a pair of games where the Eagles advanced on penalty kicks, Eastern is 21-6 in one-goal games over the last three years.

After considerable pressure in the Monarch end, Eastern (11-3, 4-1 MAC Freedom) found the equalizer on a long throw from the right side. Cole Lesher hurled the ball into the box where Jadon Ramsing nodded home his fifth of the season. The senior center back won his individual battle at the near post and flicked a header off the back post. The ball crossed the line, but was collected by the Monarch goalkeeper before it hit the net, which led to a delayed celebration as the assistant referee signaled that the ball had crossed the line.

The Eagles earned the throw after nice movement up the right side where Sam Sutherland played Evan Needs into space, which forced the King's defender to knock the ball out of play for a long throw.

King's had a 4-3 edge in first-half shots.

The two teams ground through a tough physical second half. The Eagles finally broke the tie on a corner kick in the 77th minute. Colin Furlong spun a high serve to the back post where Billy Walenda headed it toward the ground. Sean Dougherty met the header five yards from goal and blasted the game-winner into the top of the net for his 13th career goal.

"I thought we relied on our bench in the second half to play many meaningful minutes,"  Payne said after the match. "We love when we can do that. I think it was fitting that Sean scored the game winner because I thought he worked hard all game. [It is] definitely well deserved."

The Eagles battled through a physical final 14 minutes to claim the important win. The Eagles now control the inside track to a top seed in a MAC Freedom post-season picture that is coming into focus with two games left. Eastern, King's and DeSales are in the tournament. The fourth spot is still very much up for grabs. Depending on results over the final two games, Eastern could finish anywhere between first and fourth.

Quentin Keibler was credited with a pair of saves to pick up the win in goal.

"This game shows we are capable of winning in many different ways," Payne concluded. "Tonight we had to grind and be gritty. Give a lot of credit to King's because they played an excellent game and made the game tough. Playing them tonight definitely made us a better team."

The Eagles will go back up the Northeast Extension on Saturday for a game at Wilkes University.