MIDDLETOWN, Pa.— A second-half penalty kick and solid defense throughout helped Eastern University Women's Soccer claim a 1-0 win at Penn State Harrisburg in the final game of a tough four-game road swing.
Jasmine Eccles converted the 12-yard kick in the 66th minute.
The Eagles (3-3-1) had their best chance in the 30th minute. After a foul on the hosts on the left side,
Heather Abzug whipped a ball into dangerous space.
Tia Argento had the first shot in the sequence blocked from close range.
Morgan Bayley won the race to the rebound, but her shot glanced off the top of the left upright.
Harrisburg (1-5-1) who opened the year with a 1-1 draw with Messiah and beat Stevens Tech, 2-0, in Hoboken on Saturday. Had several half-chances in the first 45 minutes, but each time
Faith Leake was in the right spot to make the save. Though Leake finished the evening with eight stops, the senior goalkeeper needed to be steady, rather than spectacular. With solid box coverage and good distribution, she was what her team needed and picked up her 15th career clean sheet.
The Eagles had a pair of chances on consecutive corners early in the half.
Katelyn Mason played a pair of testing in swung balls into the area. While the Lions handled the situations, the Eagles seemed to gain confidence from the opportunities.
As the half progressed, the Eastern team started to gain possession further up the field. With
Ella Bansch and
Dolciana Escobar playing key minutes, the Eagles pressed and earned possession and field position. Bansch set up the goal with a cross from the right side. Eccles gathered the serve, made a move, and was fouled before she could release a shot.
Eccles took the ball to the spot. The junior forward sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted her shot into the lower corner to put the Eagles up. It is the first converted penalty for the Eagles since 2021.
Up a goal, the Eastern defense continued to defend set pieces and keep the Lions on the perimeter.
The Eagles will host Gwynedd Mercy on Saturday at 11 am.
