Championship Central

ST. DAVIDS, Pa. (Men’s Soccer) – The Freedom Conference top-seeded Eastern Eagles and third-seeded King’s Monarchs both punched their tickets to the conference championship match set for Saturday, Nov. 8 in St. Davids, Pa. at 1 p.m.

Eastern (15-3) is advancing to its third conference final in the last five seasons after eliminating fourth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (6-10-3) by a score of 3-0.

The Eagles’ senior forward, and recently named Freedom Offensive Player of the Year, Eric Giovagnoli opened the scoring with a penalty-kick goal in the 24th minutes to give Eastern a 1-0 lead.

Seven minutes into the second half, Giovagnoli scored again to extend the Eagles’ lead to 2-0. The senior then assisted on Eastern’s third goal scored by Kosh Cirocco in the 79th minute to give them the 3-0 victory.

King’s (14-5-1) open its semifinal game at second-seeded Misericordia (12-6-2) with a goal by David Stroh just eight minutes into regulation. The Monarchs took the one-goal advantage into halftime.

The Cougars found the equalizer just six minutes into the second half on a goal by Chris Panagacos.

In the 72nd minute, recently named Freedom Defensive Player of the Year Niall Croke scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal on a pass from Chris Nygren.

With six minutes left in regulation, Nyrgen found Stroh for his second goal of the game to give King’s the eventual 3-1 win.

In the regular season meeting, Eastern defeated King’s by a score of 2-1 in St. Davids on Oct. 22. Giovagnoli scored both of the Eagles goals in the win.

Other men’s soccer news: In the Commonwealth Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament, fourth-seeded Alvernia defeated fifth-seeded Lebanon Valley by a score of 2-1 to advance to the semifinal round against Messiah on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.