ST. DAVIDS, PA – Host Eastern University raced out to an 11-4 lead at the break cruising to a 16-8 MAC Freedom victory over Wilkes University Wednesday afternoon at Olson Field.
 
Wilkes fell to 6-5 overall and remained winless at 0-3 in conference play following the road defeat. Eastern improved to 3-7 overall and 2-1 in league games after securing the home victory.
 
The Eagles built their lead midway through the first half after five unanswered goals pushed their advantage to 9-2 with 12:07 left in the opening frame. Domenica Lerch (Northampton, PA/Northampton) notched the Colonels first goal of the contest off an assist from Ashley Burkhardt (Havre de Grace, MD/Havre de Grace) while Camryn Devitt (Northampton, PA/Northampton) recorded her 14^th strike of the season at the 20:55 mark of the first half.
 
The teams traded goals over the final eight minutes of the first half as Lerch scored her second goal of the game with 3:13 on the clock and Wilkes trailing by six. Eastern added one more tally before the half ended with a strike on the man-up advantage.
 
Lerch completed her hat trick early into the second half before back-to-back goals from Burkhardt made it 15-7 Eastern with 12:41 left in the contest. Lerch notched one more goal, her fourth of the game, with 4:05 remaining to round out the Colonels scoring.
 
Lerch topped the offense with four goals and one assist while adding a team-best six ground balls and six draw controls. Burkhardt added two goals and one helper while Devitt found the back of the net twice.
 
Sarah Carlini (Collegeville, PA/Pope John Paul II) finished with 14 saves in net playing all 60 minutes.
 
Wilkes returns home Saturday hosting Delaware Valley University on Senior Day starting at 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.