HAVERFORD, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer entered play at the Jimmy Mills Invitational tournament today having not allowed a goal in the run of play for the entire year. The Elizabethtown Blue Jays (2-2) broke that string with a pair of second-half strikes to claim a 2-0 win. The Eagles had chances late, but were unable to solve the Blue Jay back row.

The Blue Jays, who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, carried the action for much of the first half hour of play before the Eagles found opportunities with pressure late in the half. Sam Sutherland and Jake Cahill again provided several chances with darting runs on the left side.

As time wound down in the half, Sutherland found Steven Sandoval on a run into the box. Elizabethtown keeper Brian Gately stopped Sandoval's first chance, and a defender blocked the rebound for a corner kick.

In the 43rd minute, Sutherland created what seemed to be the best chance of the half. He cracked a low shot from a tough angle Gately parried into the box. The Elizabethtown defense collapsed on the loose ball and cleared it from danger before an Eastern player could get good contact on the ball. Gately made three saves in the first half.

The Blue Jays had several early chances in the second half before the Eagles seemed to gather control of the game with regular possession. That possession, however, did not result in a goal and the Blue Jays showed promise in the counter-attack. The Blue Jays found their first goal in the 65th minute on a cross from the right side. Travis Wilson met the ball at the near post and hammered home a volley to put the Eagles behind for the first time this year.

Down a goal, the Eagles put together a strong push and nearly found the equalizer on a restart from the left side. A quick redirection appeared to beat Gately, but a Blue Jay defender cleared the potential game-tying goal off the line.

As the clock counted down, the Eagles continued to look dangerous and the Blue Jays absorbed pressure. The Eastern coaching staff began pushing players forward to find the equalizer, and the Eastern attacking shape went into a a very aggressive 3-4-3. The tactical shift gave Eastern chances, but it also left the team susceptible to the counter. In the 86th minute, Elizabethtown forward Gilbert Waso drew a second defender on the left side before finding an open Eli Perry on the back side. Perry took his time and cracked a brilliant strike into the upper corner for a 2-0 lead.

On the ensuing kick off, Andrew Fenstermacher nearly grabbed the goal back with a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards out.

Quentin Keibler made three second half saves to keep the Eastern hopes alive until late.

The Eagles (3-1) will host Swarthmore College on Wednesday.