ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Led by a dominating performance at the face-off x by Zach Bauer, Eastern University Men's Lacrosse rallied from an early 5-1 deficit to top the visiting Manhattanville Valiants, 11-9, in the MAC Freedom opener for both teams. Trent Ashton scored four times to pace the Eastern attack.

How It Happened:
The first quarter was eminently forgettable for the Eastern team. The Eagles won 4-of-5 face-offs, but had nine turnovers, numerous unbacked shots and two failed clears. The Valiants took a 3-1 lead on a Gianni Ciffone goal in transition with 40 seconds left. The visitors then won their only face-off of the game and scored as time expired for a 4-1 lead.

The Valiants (5-4, 0-1 MAC Freedom) scored the first goal of the second quarter, and that 5-1 lead stood until past the midpoint of the period. The Eagles finally broke through on a tough-angle shot from Ashton. Sam Emig scored from Hassan Mackey to pull the Eagles to within two goals with two and a half minutes left in the half.

The Eagles (5-6, 1-0 MAC Freedom) had to defend down two men for 30 seconds near the close of the half. The four poles kept the Valiants outside and did not allow a shot on goal in the stretch.

The Eagles had renewed energy coming out of the intermission, but WIll Duvall won a ground ball battle after a Brett McDonald save and put Manhattanville up 6-3. Bauer won the ensuing face-off, but Emig hit Manhattanville goalie Jason Frezza with a shot and the Valiants won another ground ball battle and scored in transition for a 7-3 lead with 11 minutes to play.

The Eastern comeback started with Ashton's third of the day with ten minutes to play int he frame. Drew Johnson bounced in an overhand shot with three and a half minutes left in the frame to close the gap to 7-5. Jimmy Kurnik picked up a ground ball after Bauer won another face-off and deposited his first of the year to bring the Eagles to within a goal with three minutes left in the third.

Ciffone put Manhattanville up 8-6 with his third of the day to start the fourth quarter. Colin Piper scored a man-up goal after a good ride from Ashton to force a turnover. The Eagles scored another transition goal to tie the game. Kyran Baker forced a turnover and Chris Durning picked up a ground ball. Kurnik saved a possession with a ground ball and found Emig who tied the game.

David Thomas fired a shot off Frezza that Yeoman gathered. He put the Eagles up with another bounce shot. Ciffone, however, answered with his fourth of the day after a failed clear by Eastern.

Bauer won the next face-off and Head Coach Kevin Wallace called a time-out. The ensuing play was not wht he drew up, but it worked out. After a Manhattanville defender checked a ball loose in front of the crease, it seemed that the entire Eastern attack and the Manhattanville defense and Frezza were digging to try and pull out the ground ball. Thomas, a midfielder, pulled the ball out and shot over top of everyone from eight yards out for a 10-9 lead.

The Eagles won the next face-off with 1:55 on the clock. With the shot clock, Eastern had to go to goal. After pushing the possession clock inside 30 seconds, Mackey found Ashton for the final margin.

Frezza made 12 of his 17 saves in the second half. Brett McDonald made five of his 11 saves in the fourth quarter. Bauer finished with 12 ground balls. Durning had eight.

Coach Wallace Says:
"We had all kinds of whats and whys in the first half. We did not execute well at all. Zach had a dominant day, and we were able to get enough shots past their goalie to win the game. We will have to be better going forward."

Up Next:
The eagles are at Misericordia on Saturday. The Cougars dropped a 14-5 decision in Dallas to DeSales tonight.