ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer scored a goal in each half to beat the visiting Albright College Lions, 2-0, and keep post-season hopes alive. With 11 points int he MAC Commonwealth standings, the Eagles (6-8-3, 3-3-2) are currently tied with Alvernia for the fourth spot and ahead of both York and LVC, but the Eastern side will have to watch and hope as the rest of the league finishes out its schedule this weekend. The top five teams in the MAC Commonwealth make the post-season tournament.

Despite controlling the play through the early going, the Eagles did not break through until the 43rd minute. Some courageous shot-blocking from the Lions kept the Eagles on the perimeter, but did allow Eastern six corner kick chance in the opening 45 minutes. After the first five corners went unfinished, the Eagles earned a sixth on a shot from Tommaso Garavaglia.

Justin Shaeffer spun the corner toward the top of the box which pulled the Albright defenders out just a bit. Steven Fajardo dropped a header right into the center of the box where Derek Buhrman connected with his first touch. Buhrman's fourth of the year is his14th career tally. The Eagles held the 1-0 lead into halftime. Though the Eagles had a 9-to-3 edge in first half shots Albright goalkeeper Cooper Walters did not have a single save.

The Eagles doubled the lead on a nice combination in the 55th minute. Buhrman started the movement with a penetrating pass toward the right side. Ryan Jammes met the pass and slipped the ball back across the face of the goal where Evan Cope knocked it home for his team-high 12th goal of the year. The 12 goals is the most by an Eastern player since Eric Giovagnoli scored 15 goals in 2014.

The Eagles had a few more chances to score, but Walters made five stops and the Lions continued to block shots. The Eagles did not convert on any of their six second-half corners.

Riley Porter came on in relief of Ty Bleiler to complete the game in net.

The Eagles averted a first bad result when Messiah pulled out a 2-1 win at Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen, sitting on eight points, tied that match in the 69th minute, but the No. 2 Falcons kept the Eastern hopes more in the realm of reason with a goal in the 85th minute.

The Eagles will be watching results from York and Chester tonight. Should Hood beat York tonight, the riddle would be solved and the Eagles would be in the Tournament. If Widener beats Alvernia, a three-way tie for fourth is still possible, and if that tie is with LVC, Eastern, and Alvernia, the Eagles would wind up with a home match. Those games both start at 7:00 pm.

If York beats Hood tonight, the Eagles would likely need LVC to take the full three points off York on the weekend. That match is at York at 3:00 pm Saturday.