READING, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer picked up a 3-1 win at Alvernia University to open the 2017 season. Sean Dougherty, Cade Harmon, and Jadon Ramsing scored in the win.

The win is the first for first-year head coach Jeremy Payne. Payne took over the program as an interim coach last spring and became the full-time head coach this summer.

Dougherty put the Eagles up in the sixth minute. The senior center midfielder found his way to a rebound of a Sam Sutherland shot and pushed it through a trio of Golden Wolves for his 11th career tally.

"It was a really good play by Sammy [Sutherland]," Payne said of the opening goal. "He did a great job putting that ball on frame and creating the rebound. A lot of times that shot goes high or wide and the play ends. Sean showed good composure to put it away."

The Eagles controlled possession and field position for much of the first half. Jake Cahill, according to Payne, did an outstanding job winning his battles on the flank and creating chances coming forward out of the back. Many of those efforts resulted in restart chances for the Eagles. Eastern had an 8-2 advantage in shots at the half.

"I think we were a little more selective going forward in the second half," Payne said. "We still had a lot of the play, but up a goal, there is a risk-reward thing that kept our guys back a little more."

Even so, the Eagles doubled the lead in the 67th minute. Sutherland again created the chance. The first-year winger worked his way inside and slipped a ball through to Harmon. The reigning MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Year caught up to the through ball as it entered the box and cleared a little space for himself before tucking a ball inside the right upright for his 15th career tally.

Five and a half minutes later, the host Golden Wolves grabbed a goal back on a penalty kick. The opportunity came after the Eagles had a chance deep in the Alvernia half. The hosts broke out and found their way into the box. Quentin Keibler got a hand on the shot, but the senior goalkeeper was unable to keep it out of the back of the net. Moments later, Alvernia had a golden chance to draw level. Keibler was equal to the task with a save that Payne described as 'game-saving.'

The Eastern lead stayed at a single goal until the 89th minute. Again, it was Sutherland who created the chance. He collected a long switching pass from Colin Furlong and beat his mark to the inside. The Alvernia defender made a late lunge toward the ball, but only managed to hit Sutherland. Jadon Ramsing converted the penalty kick. Ramsing, a senior center back, now has eight goals from the spot in his career.

"Jadon and Jacob Myers did a great job controlling the pace of the game from their center back position," Payne remarked. "They set our tempo in the attack and they kept their target from touching the ball in dangerous space."

The Eagles (1-0) are back in action tomorrow afternoon. They will play California Lutheran at Franklin and Marshall College at 4:00 pm. The Regals beat Frankiln and Marshall this afternoon.