APRIL 28, 2018

WILL FACE MISERICORDIA IN MAC FREEDOM TOURNAMENT 

WILKES-BARRE, PA. - The Monarchs pulled away with a 4-3 halftime lead, but the visiting Eagles used a 6-2 final quarter take an 11-6 victory at McCarthy Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the win Eastern moves to 10-6 overall and 7-0 in MAC Freedom play, while King's moves to 6-8 overall and 3-4 in the conference. Eastern is set to take the top seed in the conference tournament, and even with a loss, King's clinches the third spot.

The Monarchs scored three unanswered goals in the first quarter with the first coming when Brian Steiger scored at the 8:43 mark. Three minutes later, junior Brett O'Neill was wrapped up in front of the Eastern goal, but made a quick pass to senior Brock Johnson who took advantage and found net. Johnson would then set up Steiger to push the score to 3-0.

The Eagles scored early in the second to cut the Monarchs' lead to 3-2, but Shawn Dickey answered soon after off a Nick Maher feed. Eastern tacked on one more goal in the half keep it a one score game.

Momentum began to shift in the second half with Eastern scoring seven unanswered goals to take a 10-4 lead in the fourth. Brett O'Neill broke the streak with 4:26 remaining, but Eastern responded a minute later to keep an 11-5 lead. Steiger knocked in the last goal and as a result, picked up his third hat trick of the season.

Trent Ashton led Eastern with seven points on three goals and four assists, while Mark Buannic had two goals. Jameal Hadeed recorded nine saves in goal. The Eagles had eight different scorers in the game.

The Monarchs return to action on Wednesday to face second-seeded Misericordia for the MAC Freedom Tournament Semifinals at a time to be determined.