Boxscore

ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University sophomore Amy Thomas played a role in all three scores with a goal and two assists as the Eagles defeated the Manhattanville women's soccer team by a 3-1 score in a rematch of last season's Freedom Conference championship game on Wednesday afternoon at Olsen Field.

The Eagles controlled play for much of the opening half, holding a big shots advantage and scoring the only goal of the frame to take a 1-0 lead into intermission. The lone goal came with 3:52 remaining in the half, as junior Allison Inch took a pass from Thomas, turned toward goal and fired a ball past Valiant senior goalie Ali Bromson (Suffield, Conn.).

The first great chance of the game came courtesy of the visitors, as sophomore Brittney Smith (Stratford, Conn.) fired a shot off the post nine minutes into the contest. At the 27:45 mark it was Eastern's turn to connect with the woodwork, as freshman Michelle Brown's attempt caromed off the post and out to keep the game scoreless.

Thomas nearly gave her team a two-goal lead before the half, but her shot also found the post with less than three minutes remaining. After 45 minutes, the home team posted a 13-3 edge in total shots, although the shots-on-goal differential was only three at 4-1. The Eagles also earned six corners to the Valiants' one, yet three saves by Bromson kept the deficit at just one after one half of play.

The Valiants came out strong to begin the second half, as the visitors tied the score 3:15 into the frame. Following an Eastern corner kick chance that was defended well, Manhattanville came right down the field and Smith scored the equalizer for the visitors, netting her first of the season off a pass from classmate Morgan Rebollal (Holtsville, N.Y.).

Both teams had chances to take the lead over the next 24 minutes of play, but it was not until the 72:26 mark that Eastern struck again to regain its advantage on the scoreboard. This time it was Thomas doing the scoring for the Eagles, as she took a pass from junior Tess Beckwith and volleyed it home to put the home team back in front with the eventual game-winner.

The Eastern lead then doubled less than two minutes later, when sophomore Kelsey Doutrich took passes from Thomas and sophomore Cara Dembrosky and found the back of the net for a key insurance tally.

For the match, Eastern posted a 23-8 edge in total shots and a 10-3 advantage on shots to reach the target. Bromson made seven saves to keep the Valiants in the game, while freshman Megan Polulak made two saves for the Eagles.

Beckwith led all players with five total shots, while Smith and senior Holly Nonis (Brampton, Ontario) both had a team-best three attempts for Manhattanville.

Manhattanville (1-11-1, 1-1-1 Freedom) will return to GoValiants.com Field on Saturday, as the Valiants host King's (Pa.) College in a Freedom Conference match starting at 1 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on their computers at GoValiants.TV or follow the live stats on GoValiants.com. Eastern (9-3-1, 3-0-0 Freedom) will travel to DeSales University for a Freedom match also on Saturday at 1 p.m.