In what was an intense, though, for the most part, not so competitive encounter, Eastern University Men’s Soccer worked around their longtime rivals, the Cavaliers of Cabrini College, to secure a win for the young team. The Eagles controlled the possession of the ball, as well as the pace of the match-up, for most of the 90 minutes, with its offense getting the upper-hand over the Cavaliers.
Led by Julio Ardon and Derek Burhman—each with a goal to their name—the Eagles put forth a great effort highlighted by a dangerous offense responsible for thirteen total shots and eight corners, as well as six shots on goal for a final score of 2-1. The Eagles set the record against the Cavaliers at 21-20 with their 17th consecutive victory in the “Battle of Eagle Road,” a rivalry dating back to 1982.
In the 48th minute, Ardon, benefiting from a strong defense and an overpowering offensive line, took possession of the ball from a Cavalier defender and drove a shot under the crossbar to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Following the positive momentum, Burhman scored the second Eastern goal of the game in the 56th minute on a volley rebounded off a blocked shot by Cavaliers goalie Anthony Zampirri.
Defensively, the Eagles stood their ground through 75 minutes of solid play by their goalie, Anthony Hitchcock, who added three saves to his name. However, after the 75th minute, the Eagles were met with defensive troubles with a restart on the defensive end, of which the Cavaliers took advantage by scoring their sole goal in the game.
Toward the end of the game, the Cavaliers, after tightening the gap, developed more plays and mounted more of a threat for the Eastern defense. However, after readjustments, the Eagles were able to stop further damage by their opponents.
In a 2-1 losing effort, Cabrini College was able to amount 11 shots, 4 saves, and 2 corners, which was slightly on par with the Eagles’ efforts.
The Eagles’ performance against their noted rivaling program was full of exciting plays, near-misses, and heart-stopping moments at the goal—and could indeed be seen as one of the team’s finest outings this season. In afterthought, beyond the exciting victory, the Eagles, and the Eastern community at large, were rewarded with a winning record against their neighbors across Eagle Road—at least for now.
Source: Eastern Athletics