News and Events
MEN’S LACROSSE TEAM ADVANCES TO PAC PLAYOFFS
St. Davids, PA, April 28, 2008: The Eagles secured the second spot in the PAC playoffs with a 12-9 win over Immaculata on April 23, then went on to take a win (forfeit) over Misericordia University in their regular season finale on Saturday ((http://www.goeasterneagles.com/). The forfeit win will not have any bearing on the PAC playoff picture as the Eagles will advance to 7-1 in the PAC. The Eagles’ seven wins surpass Eastern's previous high-water mark for league wins which was set last year with four victories.
The Eagles will host a playoff game in the program’s third year under Head Coach John Levis. Ben O’Donnell leads the team with 32 goals and eight assists. The senior attack has been strong in front of the cage, and has been effective in helping the Eagles to earn possession back in their attacking zone. O'Donnell was also selected as the Quintel Wireless-Eastern University Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 13, 2008.
“With him back in the line-up, the offense is really starting to click,” Coach Levis said of O’Donnell. The Syracuse, NY native was also an All-PAC Cross Country runner for the Eagles. He is the first men's lacrosse player to earn the award.
The offense is also heavily fueled by junior attack Nick Mandia, who has notched 22 goals and an impressive 28 assists this season. Junior Michael Ryan (21 goals, 13 assists), sophomore Michael Hofmeister (nine goals, 10 assists) and junior attack Nate Trunfio (13 goals, five assists) round out the Eagles’ offensive effort.
Coach Levis’s squad will enter the PAC Playoffs with an 8-8 mark.
The Eagles will return to action with their first home playoff game in program history on Wednesday, April 30, against Centenary College at 4 p.m. For the full men’s lacrosse schedule, visit: http://www.goeasterneagles.com/index.php?sc=6&Itemid=215.
