ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Women's Soccer celebrated senior day with a 1-0 shut-out win over the visiting Stevenson University Mustangs.
Madelyn Mullen scored the only goal of the match in the 56th minute as the Eagles picked up an important three points in the MAC Commonwealth.
After honoring eight players before the match, the Eagles were able to start all eight seniors in the match.
Gabi Hollinger,
Ashley Hollinger, and
Jessica Burg started on the pitch despite being out for the season with injuries. They joined classmates,
Brynn Rathsam, Sydney Kocsol,
Kayla Bardonner,
Leah Mowery, and Mullen for a couple quick passes before knocking the ball off and being substituted.
With the ceremony finished, the two teams started into a game with great significance for each. The Eagles battled into the wind through a scoreless first half.
The Mustangs (5-7-4, 1-3-1) had a 7-to-2 edge in first-half shots.
Faith Leake made six stops, but the majority of the Stevenson efforts came from the perimeter. The first-year goalie made her best stop on a bending shot from the tight angle in the 27th minute.
With the wind behind them, the Eagles (3-6-5, 2-2-1) started the second half on the attack. Eastern earned three corners in the early going. Mullen finally broke through on an individual effort off the right wing. After testing the Stevenson defense wide through the first half, the senior forward pushed the ball centrally and beat two defenders. Her passing attempt was blocked into the air, and she won the race to the loose ball. She tucked a right-footed shot just under the bar for her fourth tally of the year.
With nine second-half corners, the Eagles had several good chances through the remainder of the game but were never able to double their lead. They had a 15-to-1 edge in second half shots.
The Eagles will host Widener on Wednesday. The winner of that match would lock up a berth in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament and would have the inside track to a third seed. Widener scored an 88th minute goal this afternoon to beat Albright. The Eagles will finish the regular season at Albright next Saturday.
