ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer was in it until the end, but the Eagles dropped a 1-0 decision to the unbeaten York College Spartans in the second league match of the year for both sides. The Eagles (3-6-3, 0-2)) held the guests on the perimeter for much of the match, and did a good job keeping the ball, but they were unable to consistently unlock space behind a York defense that has only allowed eight goals in 14 matches.
The Spartans (10-0-4, 2-0) found the only goal of the match on a transition play in the 68th minute.
Ty Bleiler came off his line to make a big save to the left of his goal. The ball stayed in play, and York took advantage of the unsettled Eastern defense to find space for a shot on the right side. Colin Findley's right-footed shot looked to be heading wide, but Brayden Safley redirected the effort to the opposite side of the goal from five yards out.
For the final half of the second half, the Eagles put pressure on the Spartan goal with a variety of free kicks, corner kicks, and long throws. The big York back line was able to clear the ball from danger and protect Jake Bono, their keeper, from too much traffic.
The Eagles nearly made a chance out of nothing in the 72nd minute.
Manny Pak pressured the ball and blocked a clearing attempt from the top of the box that Bono racked and grabbed right under the crossbar.
With the May Day plan in effect, the Eagles threw numbers forward and had several chances near goal in the final five minutes. Following a hard foul about 35 yards out,
Zach Chaplin got on the end of a cross, but Bono dove for the save to preserve the seventh clean sheet of the year for the Spartans. He finished with two saves, and Bleiler finished with six.
The first half was evenly played with both teams relying on restarts for opportunities.
Steven Fajardo headed a
Zach Chaplin throw in just wide of the post in the 23rd minute. Late in the half, on a long throw at the other end, the Spartans dug out a loose ball and played into a pocket of space for a finish, but the assistant referee had a flag raised immediately for offside and the two teams went to the break without a goal on the board.
The Eagles are at Arcadia on Wednesday night and will return home to host Hood College in a critical MAC Commonwealth test next Saturday.
