CHESTER, Pa.— IN a MAC Commonwealth season with the slimmest margins, a short handed Eastern University Men's Soccer group again came up on a the short end of a tight score with a 2-1 loss at Widener University. With the result, the Pride locked up a spot in the MAC Comonwealth Tournament and the Eagles saw their slim hopes disappear with their third 2-1 loss in the league season.
The Pride (11-4-1, 5-2) got on the board in the fifth minute on. quick finish of a short cross from the left side. Ten minutes later, the Eagles equalized on a shot from distance by
Mauro Lence. The shot slipped through traffic at the top of the box and slid just inside the left upright.
Though Lence was back after extended time off from injury, the Eagles (7-5-4, 2-4-1) were down several valuable pieces on the back end of the field and were forced to juggle a line-up to accommodate for those losses. The reworked Eastern back line had momentary breakdown in the 64th minute, and the Pride took advantage. After a throw-in on the left side, the Pride flipped the ball over the top of Eastern's backs to a player who had found a pocket of onside space. A quick cross and a good finish gave the Pride the margin they needed.
The Eagles pressed forward to work for an equalizer, but the organized Widener defense held the Eagles to only three second-half shots. The Eagles earned seven corner kicks after the break, but they were unable to convert them into the dangerous opportunities they wanted them to be.
Michael Arcuri finished with seven saves in goal.
The Eagles have a chance to play spoiler in their season-finale at Messiah on Saturday. Messiah and Neumann are tied atop the league.
