(box score)
Junior Tommy Hoopes (West Chester, PA) played spectacularly with nine saves and Widener built a six-goal lead en route to its sixth straight win, an 8-5 Middle Atlantic Conference triumph over Eastern at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
In a battle of teams that entered a combined 13-6 overall, Widener bolted to a 4-0 lead in just under the first 25 minutes. Junior Ryan Shewell (Ellicott City, MD), sophomore Josh Fox (Wynnewood, PA), sophomore Johnny Casey (Glenside, PA) and junior Michael Bassani (Califon, NJ) tallied in that stretch.
The margin grew to 7-1 with 1:45 left in the third quarter thanks to two markers from freshman Robert Clemens (Aston, PA) as well as Casey's second.
The Eagles (6-5, 5-2 MAC) made things interesting, getting three straight goals to close to 7-4 with 11:01 to play. Matt Wagner, Matt Soldano and Zac Ivy all tallied in that span.
However, junior Brian Rogers (Malvern, PA) scored with 8:51 to go for some much-needed breathing room and an 8-4 Pride lead.
The story was Hoopes, who was making his first career start and notched his first victory. He had six saves in the opening half when Eastern managed just one goal and helped Widener to its longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2006.
Soldano scored twice and Aaron Benz made eight saves for the Eagles.
Widener (8-2, 6-0) remains atop the MAC with Messiah (6-0), which rallied for an 11-10 overtime victory against Elizabethtown.
Widener on Saturday hosts Lebanon Valley at noon. The team that day will sponsor the “MAC ATtaCk on Hunger” as we ask fans to donate canned goods or money that will be given to local food banks.
