ST. DAVIDS, Pa.–Nine different players scored as Eastern University Men's Lacrosse pulled away to a 12-3 win over the visiting DeSales University Bulldogs in the opening round of the MAC Freedom Tournament. The Eagles led 6-3 at halftime and broke the game open with three goals in the first three minutes of the second half.

Neither offense created many chances early, but the Eagles (12-6) scored first in the game on a good individual effort from Jake Billera. with six minutes left in the first half. The Junior midfielder scored his first of three on the day after stepping toward the middle and then rolling back down the right alley.

The Bulldogs answered ninety seconds later before the Eagles scored three times in the final 3:06 in the first quarter. The 4-1 lead, however, was short-lived, as Tyler Newman scored with three seconds left in the period. Billera, Bryan Goetz, and Tim Lamb scored in Eastern's three-goal burst. Billera and Lamb scored on very similar efforts from behind the cage. Goetz buried his first of two on the day on a pass from Lamb behind the goal.

In the first meeting between the two teams this year, Eastern trailed 6-3 at half before rallying to win 12-8. The Bulldogs took another step to close the gap with a goal four minutes into the second quarter.

The game remained at 4-3 for much of the period until Sean Fechter fought his way upfield from the goal line and ripped home his 11th goal of the season with 3:28 left in the half. Billera finished the scoring with his third goal on a pass from Lamb in the final seconds of the first half.

Eastern had an 18-14 edge in first half shots and was successful on 8-of-9 clears against the aggressive DeSales' ride. Zach Bauer won 8-of-11 first half faceoffs. The freshman finished the day winning 15-of-19 in his first post-season action.

The Eagles secured control of the game with a three goal burst to start the second half. The Bulldogs won the opening faceoff, but Nick Jinks poked a ball free and James Hadeed scampered out of his net to collect the ground ball and fire a quick outlet pass. Bryan Mizell found Matt Martin in alone on the goalie and Martin tucked home his 15th of the year for a 7-3 edge.

The Bulldogs were called for a slash on the ensuing faceoff, but that penalty would not be enforced until after Bryan Goetz scored his second of the afternoon. Chris Durning picked up the ground ball on the man-up faceoff and Mark Buannic scored his 26th of the year to complete the run. Durning finished with seven ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. Matt Auletti picked up a loose ball on the edge of the crease and tucked it home for a 10-3 edge with 8:25 left in the period.   

The Eastern defense drew a line and stood its ground for the remainder of the period. The Bulldogs managed only five shots in the period.

Jake Pousson and Mizell each scored in the fourth for the final margin.

Jameal Hadeed made 11 stops in 55 minutes, and Austin Mutter stopped the only shot he saw in relief.

The Eagles advance to their sixth consecutive MAC Freedom Championship game. For the first time. however, that game will be on the road. Eastern will travel to Misericordia for a rematch of last year's MAC Freedom title game. The Cougars secured the top seed with a 7-6 home win in the first league date of the year. Misericordia beat fourth-seeded FDU-Florham, 13-10, this evening in Dallas.

The game, which is on Eastern's graduation day, will start at 7:00 pm.