ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Field Hockey scored three times in a 12 minutes span in the second half to beat the visiting Albright College Lions, 3-1. Ali Balmer, Alexis Gooch, and Brianna Luscher scored, and Nicole Berger made ten stops in goal.

The Lions grabbed the lead in the waning moments of the first half after the Eagles had a chance on a penalty corner. For most of the early going, Albright had more of the possession, but the Eastern defense limited the visitors' chances. In the 34th minute, however, the Lions broke out of their end on a two-person breakaway. Kaley Donmoyer drew Berger to her and slipped a pass to Amanda Long who buried a shot into the open cage.

The Lions other great chance in the first half came on a rebound effort in front of the goal. The officials awarded a penalty stroke when a shot hit an Eastern player in the body on the goal line. That save proved to be fortunate as Long's stroke flew just wide of the cage.

Albright had a 7-2 edge in shots and a 5-2 edge in penalty corners through the first half.

Play opened up at the start of the second half. Gina Miller created the first Eastern goal in the 40th minute. The senior midfielder won a one-v.-one battle on the right side and smashed a cross into the scoring area. Balmer received the pass on the doorstep and reversed direction to sweep in her first of the year.

Two minutes later, the Eagles again threatened the circle. This time, it was Alison Hoag who earned the circle. The junior midfielder drove in deep and pulled the ball back to her strong stick for a shot to the back post. The blast slipped past the Albright goalie, but a defender blocked it on the goal line for an Eastern penalty stroke. Gooch stepped forward from her center back spot to convert what would be the game-winner. The goal was the first career tally for the sophomore.

Albright had a chance to tie on a breakaway coming out of a timeout, but Berger came off her line to kick away a chance from Donmoyer. Moments later. Hoag found Luscher open at the top of the circle. The goalie kicked her first shot wide, but Luscher beat everyone to the rebound and ripped a tough angle shot of a defenders stick and into the goal.

The insurance goal gave some breathing room, but the Eagles needed more heroics from Berger late to secure the match. Berger made a huge sprawling stop on Donmoyer's penalty stroke in the 65th minute.

"It was chest high," Berger said. "those are tough ones, but I saw the ball off the stick and it was a little inside the post so I was able to throw my whole body at and get it." Berger had 20 saves in her opening weekend.

The Eagles (1-1) will play Rowan at home on Wednesday at 4:00 pm.