ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer picked up its fifth shutout win of the year with a convincing 3-0 home win over Eagle Road rival Cabrini University. The Eagles took the lead midway through the first half and pulled away with two goals in the second half.

The Eagles got on the board on their fourth corner kick of the match. After Cabrini defended the initial serve, the ball fell to Billy Walenda on the back post. Walenda fired a shot that appeared to be headed directly toward the Cabrini goalkeeper, but Jacob Myers cut in front and blasted a shot from close range into the top of the net. It is the first goal of the year for the junior center back.

"I thought we did a great job early in the game connecting and forcing tempo," Head Coach Jeremy Payne said after the match. "We were interesting and we created chances through the first half. Jacob and Jadon [Ramsing] were really good in that and I thought Jake Cahill did a nice job getting into the attack as well."

Cahill, a junior left back, was a constant threat on the overlap through the opening hour of the match. Shortly after Myers scored his goal, Cahill ventured forward and was fouled outside the box. Colin Furlong took the free kick and hit a dipping shot that struck the crossbar with authority. Walenda had a follow-up effort blocked by a Cabrini defender.

Even with their strong play through the opening period, the Eagles (7-1) held a slim 1-0 lead at halftime. Eastern had a 14-2 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Cade Harmon Broke the game open with an individual effort in the 66th minute. The junior forward stripped the ball from a dribbling defender and, after taking a strong touch toward goal, bent home his fourth goal of the season.

"It is good to see Cade back on the board," Payne said. "He can make something out of nothing, and that is important for us. We did not have great rhythm or tempo in the second half, but we figured out how to get a pair of goals even without that. I guess that is good and bad news. THe bad news is that we have not been successful in putting together a full 90 minute match yet. the good news is that I beleive we will and that our best soccer is still in front of us."

Harmon was fouled at the top of the box in the 80th minute to set up the final goal. Sean Dougherty blasted the 22-yard free kick toward goal, and a Cabrini player stopped the ball with his arm. The referee pointed to the spot and Jadon Ramsing converted the penalty kick for his third goal of the year. Ramsing has made all nine of his penalty kicks during game play through his four year career. He has also been perfect in penalty kick shootouts as well.

Quentin Keibler played the first 83 minutes in goal before Ben Lochstampfor came on to finish the match. Keibler made several plays to manage his box, but did not have to make a save as Ramsing, Myers, Cahill, and Zach Harley kept the Cavaliers away from goal.

"We still need to be better at not losing the ball in the back half of the field and giving up fouls," Payne concluded. "If we don't give the ball up in our half, I believe we will be very hard to score against, but we have to keep building responsible habits."

The Eagles do not play again until they open MAC Freedom play at Manhattanville College next Saturday.

 

had an 18-5 edge in shots