READING, Pa. – In a 2-2 tie, senior Lindsey Hecker scored in the 67^th minute to lift the Albright Lions field hockey team to a 3-2 win over Eastern in the season opener on Saturday morning in non-conference action.
 
With the win, the Lions will start the season 1-0 and have now won three of their first four home opening games. The win over Eastern also snaps a three-game losing streak to the Eagles dating back to 2015. The Eagles of the MAC Freedom will start 0-1.
 
The Lions struck quick in the first half to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute following a penalty corner opportunity. Sophomore Jennifer Crumling found classmate Bailey Lehman at the top of the box, who ripped a shot that was redirected in front of the net by senior Annette Helmandollar for her first goal of the season. Eastern would level the score at one 10 minutes later on a goal that was also initially set up from a penalty corner. The Eagles nearly took the lead in the 23^rd minute when a shot beat starting goalkeeper Aileen Taylor, but junior Kyra Scerbo knocked the ball out before it crossed the line. Taylor would then make back-to-back saves in the 31^st to preserve the tie headed into halftime.
 
Jennifer Crumling would give the Lions the lead back just 1:46 into the second half after her shot on the left side rolled into the right part of the net past the Eastern goalkeeper. After an Eagles timeout, Eastern then controlled play for the next six minutes which eventually resulted in a penalty stroke goal to tie things at two. Back-up goalie Brynne Schoppe made four saves during the stretch to keep the Eagles out of the net. The Lions fought valiantly to keep the game tied despite continued pressure from the Eagles. The effort would pay off with 3:37 left in the second half when Hecker pushed the ball into the net on a scramble out front to give the Lions a 3-2 lead. The Eagles made one last charge and got a penalty corner opportunity in the final minute of the game. Albright was able to block the only shot attempt after the corner to preserve the win.
 
The goal from Hecker was her first goal since the 2016 season. Eastern outshot the Lions 18-13 overall and 13-6 in shots on goal after tallying 13 total shots in the second half. The Eagles also held a 13-8 advantage in penalty corners as well. Schoppe earned her first collegiate win in relief after making seven saves in the second half, while Taylor posted two saves in the first half. Eastern goalkeeper Marley Redfield suffered the tough loss after making three saves in the full 70 minutes.
 
The Lions will return to action tomorrow, September 2^nd when they will travel to face Stockton in a rematch of last season's first round ECAC Tournament contest at 12 p.m.