Soccer season ends on high note

After winning the Freedom Conference, the Women’s soccer team lost in penalty kicks to SUNY Cortland in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. As the #2 seed, Eastern defeated a very tough Misericordia team 3-0 to take the Freedom Conference crown. The Eastern women’s soccer team, not to be shorted of a stellar season, sent eight members of their squad to a very well earned Freedom Conference honor. The first and second team candidates were chosen by the head coach of each team within the Freedom Conference.

First team honors went to Kelsey Doutrich, Alysia Goodman and Carly Inch. Doutrich only played in 17 of twenty games this seasn due to injures, but was still very much of a contributor. Doutrich collected 17 goals this season and led the team with 39 total points, both Freedom Conference highs. Inch helped the Eagle defense become a challenging obstacle for their opponents. Women’s soccer scored 50 goals this season compared to the 13 goals scored by their opponents. Much of the success of the women’s soccer team this year was indebted to the defense, including Goodman, their first team all conference goalie. Goodman put up impressive stats this season, allowing only 13 goals while recording 69 saves. She led the Freedom Conference with a .63 goals against average. The Eagles have only allowed more than one goal in regulation to one team: Messiah College.

Five players were named to the second team: Katie Ruth, Emily Roquemore, Bethany Engle, Ashley Graybill and Tess Beckwith. Ruth and Engle were vital to the defense. Beckwith and Graybill were tied for third on the team in goals scored with five a piece.

The Eagles finished the season posting a record of 13-5-3. The loss in Ohio brings the end of a career to seven seniors in the Eastern program: Charlotte Laurie, Allison Inch, Carly Inch, Katie Ruth, Bethany Engle, Kristine Zeiset and Tess Beckwith.

The Men’s soccer team finished their season with a record of 12-6-1. Men’s soccer defeated no. 24 Desales, 3-0, in a stunning Freedom Conference opener before advancing and falling to Freedom Conference champions Misericordia, 1-0. Highlights in the game against DeSales included two magnificent goals by sophomore Mitch Osterhouse and great defense from sophomore James Le and goalie Jon Crowder, senior. Six players earned Freedom Conference honors.

James Le and senior Jon Crowder earned first team honors. Le, a center back, was stellar this season for the Eagles defense. Crowder recorded five shutouts and had a 1.0 goals against average. There were four Eagles that earned second team honors. They were Brandon Reichart, Bradon Gross, Sean Bonner and Alex Shweitzer. The Men’s soccer team went on a tear starting in the middle of the season winning ten of thirteen games. They were led in goals by Braden Gross with 10, followed by Reichart with eight and Osterhouse with six. The Men’s Soccer team will graduate five seniors: Josh Martin, Jon Crowder, Braden Gross, Grant Supplee and Alex Shweitzer.

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