ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— In the squad's final non-league test of the year, Eastern University Men's Soccer (4-8-3) scored once in each half to earn a 2-0 home win over the Washington College Shoremen (4-6-4). The shutout win snaps a five-game skid and gives the Eagles positive momentum heading into the meat of what promises to be a wide-open MAC Commonwealth season.
With both teams building defensive structures and limiting risks, the first 20 minutes had more cards (2) than shots (1). The lone shot of the time was a hopeful volley from the guests that went out for a throw in. While the game picked up speed as the half progressed, neither team took committed numbers into spaces where they could be hurt by a counter.
The Eagles finally broke through on what seemed to be a completely innocuous opportunity. Ty Blieler came out from goal to take a restart near the Eastern bench. He clipped a 60-yard pass toward the Washington College box. Both Shoremen center backs moved to play the ball, but neither won it cleanly.
Morris Marshall gambled on the miss and poked home his second career goal. Though Bleiler has provided dangerous service throughout his career, the senior goalkeeper picked up his first career assist on the play.
Eastern had a 5-4 edge in first -half shots.
With the lead, the Eagles committed to defending in the second half while keeping the option for the counter-attack open.
Evan Cope and
Mauro Lence each created several dangerous forays against the run of play, but the Eagles managed the game with a strong defending block. Kade Siep and
Steven Fajardo played behind
Adedotun Adelekan and
Zach Sievert to take away chances from in close and to limit the danger of serves and restarts.
Jacob Shalev and Iñego Gullon Santana gave the Eagles outlets in width and a way to get forward.
While the visitors had better position and more of the ball, the Eagles had the better chances. Both goalkeepers finished the half with two saves.
While the one goal held the result was not certain until the final minute. With the Shoremen pushing forward, the Eagles won a ball and pushed it wide. Shalev hit a ball over top and Cope turned the corner on the last defender and worked his way central. Having outrun his support and having a pair of crosses go unfinished earlier in the match, Cope looked to work up-field for his own shot. He beat the goalkeeper with a good move but was fouled before he could finish. He converted the penalty for his 6th goal of the year.
The win over the Shoremen had the team in good spirits. This season, Washington College has wins over the University of Mary Washington and Johns Hopkins and a tie against Franklin and Marshall. The Shoremen finished the 2023 season in the Final Four.
While the Eagles are currently looking up at the entire MAC Commonwealth, no team in the league has more than four points. A good run of games could put any team right in the mix in a league that does not appear to have a clear cut favorite.
Eastern is at York on Saturday.
