SELINSGROVE, Pa.– Adversity can emerge in a lot of different ways. For Eastern University Men's Lacrosse, the challenges of the day started with traffic. A longer than expected bus ride brought the Eagles to their game at Susquehanna with only 24 minutes to warm up. Challenged to be focused from the start, the Eagles never trailed and handed the Riverhawks (7-2) a 9-5 loss.

"We did a very good job of dictating the pace of the game and keeping the ball," Head Coach Kevin Wallace said of the day. "We were good on faceoffs, which gave us more possessions." Zach Bauer won 10-of-16 faceoffs, and Connor Lowry claimed a win in his only duel at the x.

Jake Pousson put the Eagles up in the fourth minute with his first of two on the afternoon and his fifth goal of the  year. Fellow sophomore Mark Buannic doubled the Eastern lead with just over a minute to play in the quarter. Buannic was the other Eastern player to score twice.

The Riverhawks cut the deficit to 2-1 with eight seconds to go in the period and then tied the game two and a half minutes into the second. The game remained tied for less than five minutes when the Eastern midfield took over.

Jake Billera put the Eagles up with seven and a half minutes to play, and Trevor Gallion scored thirty y seconds later. Bryan Goetz put the Eagles up 5-2 on a pass from Billera. The Riverhawks pulled a goal back a minute later, but the Eagles scored twice in the final minute of the half to seize control of the game. Tim Lamb scored with 54 seconds on the clock, and Billera found Buannic with 11 seconds left.

The Eagles scored the first two goals of the second half in the final four minutes of the third period to go up 9-3. Pousson scored his second of the day and Sean Fechter added his fourth of the year with 1:49 on the clock. The Riverhawks scored 19 seconds later, but the hosts were unable to find the net again until there were only four minutes remaining in the game.

Strong work on faceoffs and disciplined play on offense kept the Riverhawks from being able to put together runs to get back in the game. Wallace pointed to Billera's work running the offense as a key to the game. Jameal Hadeed stopped ten shots to post his fourth win of the year.

"We could have shot the ball better," Wallace said after the game, "but I was happy with the way we responded after a big win last week. The guys handled the adversity of the day and delivered. We have to keep this going."

The Eagles  (4-4) have two more non-league games on their schedule. They will play at Messiah on Saturday night and then will host No. 11 Dickinson on April 1.