CAMDEN, N.J. - Eastern Women's Soccer, despite a valiant second half effort, dropped a 2-1 win decision at Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday night. Junior forward
Jasmine Eccles scored her first collegiate goal early in the second half, but the Eagles were unable to find the equalizer.
The host Scarlet Raptors (2-0-1) set the pace of play in the first half, controlling both possession and field position throughout the opening 45 minutes. Rutgers-Camden held Eastern without a shot in the first half while taking 12 of its own and limited the Eagles to just three total shots in the match.
Rutgers-Camden scored both of its goals in the final eight minutes before halftime. Ava Stowell struck first in the 39th minute with a left-footed shot off a crafty touch from Talia Thommasson. Asia Horne doubled the Scarlet Raptors' lead with a strike on a mini-breakway in with just 1:19 left in the frame.
After halftime the Eagles made their push. Their relentless pressure paid off in the 53rd minute. After gathering a loose ball just outside the box, senior forward
Mia Zucker found a cutting Eccles with a perfect pass. The Lawrence, N.J. native deposited the ball past Rutgers-Camden goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi for her first career tally.
Eastern, however, only mustered two more shots after the Eccles goal despite several chances in the front of the Scarlet Raptors' net, failing the net the tying tally. Senior goalie
Faith Leake made eight saves, including a brilliant diving stop on Brianne Reeves in the 62nd minute.
The Eagles (2-1-0) return to St. Davids on Satuday for a 4:30 pm matchup against Franklin & Marshall College.
