ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— Eastern University Field Hockey scored in each of the first three periods on the way to a 3-2 season-opening win over the visiting Moravian University Greyhounds. First-year defender
Lydia Ehst scored what turned out to be the game-winner when she broke a 2-2 tie with a rebound effort in the 42nd minute. All three Eastern goals came on rebounds of shots that tested the Moravian goal.
Rhyanna Ridgeway opened the scoring in the sixth minute off with a strong finish after
Karlee Howard's solo effort got turned away. Howard dribbled through defenders and in on goal, but her shot was turned away. Ridgeway was in the right spot to tuck home her third career tally. moments later, the Eagles nearly doubled the lead on a
CJ Summa strike, but a defensive save kept the Eastern lead at one.
Ehst led a defensive effort that held the Greyhounds to only two first-quarter shots. The Eagles had a 3-to-0 edge in penalty corners through 15 minutes.
Brynne Miller put the Eagles up 2-0 on a rebound effort following a penalty corner.
Alyssa Caldini tested the goalkeeper with the first shot of the sequence. Miller, a graduate transfer, scored from close range.
The Grayhounds answered with a goal late int he second and tied the game with another goal early in the third, before the Eagles went ahead on their second of three penalty corners in the third. Summa smacked a shot on goal from the top of the circle that turned into a long rebound. Ehst collected the ball and found a backboard with a low shot through traffic.
From there, the Eagles did well to control possession and field position over the final 18 minutes. They were dangerous on their five fourth-quarter penalty corners. Midway through the fourth Moravian goalie Maia Machado swatted a high shot from Caldini off the line to keep the guests in the game. Moments later,
Megan Possinger foiled a grayhound corner with an excellent block to keep the Eagles up.
Angelina Catania made four saves to secure the win. The Eagles host Gwynedd Mercy University in a Dream Crazy Youth game at 11 am on Saturday.
