DOYLESTOWN, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer had lost two in a row coming into this afternoon's MAC Freedom test at Delaware Valley University. The two-time defending MAC Freedom Champs played with urgency and commitment from the outset and earned a decisive 7-0 road win. Billy Walenda scored a pair of goals and set up a couple more to lead an Eastern attack that out-shot the hosts by a 29-2 margin.

"Both the coaching staff and the players know that we are capable of competing at a very high-level." Head Coach Jeremy Payne said after the match. "We are still trying to figure out how to do that every single game in every single practice. I think we've been getting better at it as the season has progressed. It was good to get a shut out and see the ball go in the back of the net today."

Payne and the coaching staff moved players into some new spots in the lineup, and the team responded with dynamic movement off the ball in attack and immediate and relentless pressure in defending. The Eagles broke open the scoring on an own goal in the ninth minute. Billy Walenda hurled a long throw into the box. An attempted clear wound up in the back of the net for a 1-0 led.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles stole the ball and played Sam Sutherland into space on the right side. An awkward challenge from an Aggie defender led to a penalty kick attempt only fifteen seconds after the first goal. Jadon Ramsing converted for his fourth goal of the year.

Eastern continued to press and generated seven shots over the next 13 minutes, but the lead remained at 2-0 until Colin Furlong floated a beautiful serve to the back post from 35 yards out. Jacob Myers met the ball at the top of his jump and powered a header right under the crossbar for his second goal of the year. Forty-five seconds later, Walenda picked up a loose ball in the middle of the field and saw the Delaware Valley goalkeeper off his line. HIs shot from 30 yards out slipped under the cross bar for a 4-0 lead.

Eastern had a 13-0 edge in first-half shots.

Walenda created another goal with a hard cross in the 54th minute. Another attempted clear wound up in the back of the net for a 5-0 lead. Sutherland added a tally in the 66th minute and Walenda closed out the scoring with his fourth of the year late in the game.

Quentin Keibler, Ben Lochstampfor, and Anthony Hitchcock split the shutout in goal.

The Eagles (8-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) will host Misericordia University on Wednesday afternoon.