ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– For the third Saturday in a row, Eastern University Women's Soccer (7-8-1, 2-3-1) held a 2-1 lead late in the match. The Eagles were unable to hold the lead and dropped a tough 3-2 decision to the visiting FDU-Florham Devils. The Eagles honored their seven seniors before the match. 

How It Happened:
The Eagles fell behind early on a goal in the sixth minute, but Nicole Weenink equalized in the 16th minute on a feed from Corinne Vecchione through the FDU back line. Weenink timed her run to beat the high back row and slipped a shot around the goalkeeper for her 10th tally of the year. 

Zoe Galvin nearly put the Eagles up with a 25-yard shot in the 42nd minute, but FDU goalkeeper Brianna Brannigan touched the ball over bar for a corner kick. 

Both teams had eight first-half shots and both goalkeepers made three saves. 

Out of the intermission, the Devils had the Eagles pinned in deep for the opening three minutes, but Zoe Galvin found an opening and put another ball into space for Weenink on the left side. The senior pushed her first touch left and finished with her left to put the Eagles up a goal. Weenink has seven goals and an assist in league play and has registered at least a point in each of the squad's six MAC Freedom matches this fall.

When the Eagles held the lead with 15 minutes to play, the Devils began to push numbers forward with abandon. The Eagles moved to respond, but the Devils found the equalizer off a cross from the left side in the 80th minute. Moments later, the Devils found the game-winner with another run up the left side. 

The Eagles had a couple chances to equalize on restarts late, but the Devils were able to see out the game. 

Eastern recognized seven seniors before the match. Weenink, Galvin, Amy Radcliffe, Carli Sitkowski, and Alyssa Scalen all played in the match and and Amanda Kelly and Alyssa Simpkins were unable to play with injury.

Coach Stueck Says:
"I continue to be proud of the team for there competitive spirit, and I can tell by their faces afterwards how much today disappointed them. This is the unfortunate side of sports sometimes, and it's important we stick together and get back to work again Monday."

"The senior class has been terrific all season, both those playing and those serving the team in other ways, and all five who played today were terrific."

"Nicole has at least a point in every conference game. I believe she's proven to be one of the best players in the conference and region."

Up Next:
Eastern will host Franklin and Marshall College in a final home match of the season before wrapping up the MAC Freedom season at league-leading Stevens next Saturday. While the Eagles are still mathmatically alive in the MAC Freedom post-season hunt,they will need to win at Stevens and have a WIlkes loss to Delaware Valley to make the tournament.