ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– After starting the season with a pair of wins, Eastern University Field Hockey faced its toughest test with a home date against the No. 3 Rowan University Profs (2-0). The young Eastern side grabbed an early lead and played with the Profs through the better part of the game before the visitors pulled away late with a 6-2 win.

How It Happened:
The Eagles opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Joelle Wash banged a cross from the right side and Hailey Ferry pushed it over the goal line for a 1-0 edge. That lead stood through the first period and for the first six minutes of the second. The Profs had a pair of penalty corners in the first quarter and Kylie Troyer made two of her eight saves, but the Eagles had the better of the field position battle through the opening frame.

The Profs used up-field pressure to change the tempo of the game and create the equalizer. After an Eastern turnover, Rowan created and converted a quick strike counterattack to level the score in the 22nd minute. Just before the end of the half, Rowan won another ball in a deep position and Liz Fox earned the circle and fired home a beautiful reverse stick shot for a 2-1 lead.

The Eagles put the guests on the back foot out of the intermission. After earning consecutive penalty corners, the Eagles picked up a chance to equalize on a penalty stroke. Rowan goalie Morgan Novak guessed right and pushed away the attempt from Ali Balmer. Balmer, however, found the equalizer in the 37th minute on another cross from Wash.

The Profs retook the lead on a penalty corner goal in the 42nd minute and with the Eagles down a pair of players because of cards had a chance to double the edge on an untimed penalty corner to end the third. Moriah Greene turned away the shot and the Eagles went to the fourth down 3-2.

The Profs took advantage of the extra bodies to start the fourth. The scored on a double-deflection only 12 seconds into the period.

Down two, the Eagles pressed forward and had several chances to close the gap over the fourth. Eastern earned four penalty corners in close succession, but Novak came up with four stops to keep the Eagles from closing the gap.

With Eastern pressing, Rowan found chances in transition. Krystina Hovell scored twice in the final three minutes to put the match away.

Rowan had a 14-11 edge in shots on goal and an 11-7 edge in penalty corners in the match. Novak finished with nine saves.

Coach Azzarano Says;

"We knew today was going to be a battle and the girls left it all out on the field. There are solid reasons why we are holding our heads high and focusing on the good aspects of our play."

"We will take time to thoughtfully process our mistakes and work as a team to fix them. Every player should be proud to be an Eagle today. There is a lot of good we can take from the way we played, and there are some things that really hurt us in this game that we can fix. This was a great test for us at this point in the year. I think we all walked away from today knowing that we can play with these really strong teams. I look forward to seeing our team get stronger as we gain experience."

Up Next:
The Eagles (2-1)will host Haverford College at 11 am on Saturday.