Individual Game-by-Game Stats | Career Stats

CHARLESTON, Ill. – All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for three seniors, the program's first Academic All-America selection and an overtime win in the OVC Tournament highlighted Eastern Illinois women's soccer's 2007 season.

 

Kathleen Hayes, Michelle Steinhaus and Kellie Floyd closed their already accomplished careers with All-OVC honors at the postseason banquet. Hayes and Steinhaus also represented the Panthers on the All-Tournament Team.

 

Eastern (8-11-1, 4-5 OVC) was one of four teams at the banquet thanks to its overtime win at Murray State in the tourney's opening round. Pam Melinauskas tied the game in the final 10 minutes and Alexis Miller won it, bending a corner kick around the near post for her first career overtime goal. The comeback win kept the program's most notable streak alive. The Panthers are the only league team that have won at least one game and reached the semifinals of the OVC Tournament every year the event has been held (since 1999).

 

Senior Meghan Ryon was again a key member of the EIU defense. Off the field, her perfect 4.0 GPA earned her ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America honors.

 

Eastern's schedule also turned out to be one of the most notable aspects of the season. Eleven of EIU's 18 opponents finished with 10-plus wins. The Panthers defeated Mid-American Conference champion Ball State in the first meeting between the two schools, and also played Summit League winner Western Illinois to a 2-2 draw. Western Kentucky, Loyola and Illinois State were other non-conference opponents that either won their league's regular season or tournament title.

 

Additionally, the Eastern-Samford rivalry came to a close with another classic OVC Tournament meeting between the two schools. The Bulldogs are joining the Southern Conference in time for the 2008 season.

 

Every Panther on the roster this season saw action, with 22 of the 25 players starting at least one game. Eastern will have to bid adieu to six seniors but is slated to return 19 letter-winners for the '08 campaign.

 

 

BARRINGTON (Barrington) – Caitlyn Eisenhauer, freshman, defender/midfielder. OVC All-Newcomer Team… Eisenhauer played in 17 games and started 12, including eight of the nine OVC contests… led the EIU freshman class in starts and minutes played (959)… assisted on Michelle Steinhaus' game-winning goal against Austin Peay… played all 90 minutes of the must-win game against Jacksonville State less that 48 hours after an injury knocked her out of the Samford contest early… put both of her shots on goal in the JSU win… played 86 minutes in the overtime victory against Murray State in the opening round of the OVC Tournament… after joining the starting lineup beginning with the Western Illinois match (game 7), only injuries prevented her from starting every game the rest of the season.

 

BELLEVILLE (Althoff Catholic) – AJ Brewer, sophomore, defender. Brewer played in seven games and started the final three contests of the season… after a number of ailments limited her for much of the regular-season, her presence in the postseason propelled EIU into the OVC Tournament semifinals… she played the entire game in the semifinal loss to Samford after logging 88 minutes in the opening-round win at Murray State… entering the regular-season finale against Illinois State she had played just 63 minutes, but saw 60 minutes of action against the Redbirds, setting the stage for her reemergence in the tournament.

 

BUFFALO GROVE (Buffalo Grove) – Samantha Kohen, freshman, midfielder. Kohen played in six games, three of which were OVC contests… recorded her first assist as a Panther on Pam Melinauskas' goal and logged a season-high 19 minutes in the victory over Tennessee Tech… also registered a pair of shots in the Tech win… logged double-figure minutes (18) in the home-opening victory against Indiana State.

 

CHAMPAIGN (Centennial) – Karisa Brenner, senior, defender/midfielder. Brenner played in 15 games and started 11, including the final six games of the year… was diagnosed with a knee injury early in the season but did not let it prevent her from being a contributor to the defensive unit the rest of the season… averaged 89.5 minutes per game while starting those final six games of the season… played the entire game six times, including must-win games against Jacksonville State and Murray State in the opening-round of the OVC Tournament… one of 11 players to log at least 1,000 minutes for the season.

 

CHATHAM (Chatham-Glenwood) – Kaitlin Sullivan, freshman, forward. Sullivan played in 16 games and started the Loyola match… scored EIU's second goal in the win against Tennessee Tech… assisted on Michelle Steinhaus' second goal in the must-win game against Jacksonville State… logged a season-high 68 minutes in the Loyola game… the 40 minutes she played against Austin Peay were her most in an OVC game… saw action in both OVC Tournament games.

 

CHATHAM (Chatham-Glenwood) – Kellie Floyd, senior, midfielder/forward. Second Team All-OVC… Third Team NSCAA All-Central Region Scholar... Floyd started every game for the third season in a row, finishing her career having started a team-high 61 consecutive games… ranked second on the team in minutes played (1,618), averaging 80.9 minutes per game… posted her second career multi-goal in the home-opening win against Indiana State… also assisted on Angela Ziemba's goal in the same game… scored against Eastern Kentucky for the third year in a row… played the entire game four times, including a stretch of three consecutive matches during OVC play… recorded a shot in 16 of the 20 games, including a stretch of 12 consecutive contests… was the program's active leader in assists (9) when her career ended… Eastern posted a 7-0 record when she scored during her career… EIU All-Time Rankings: 10th in game-winning goals (4).

 

COLLINSVILLE (Collinsville) – Rebecca Holcomb, freshman, defender. Holcomb played in nine games, including five OVC contests… played a season-high 29 minutes in the regular-season finale against Illinois State… also logged double-figure minutes in the wins over Eastern Kentucky (15) and Tennessee Tech (13).

 

ELGIN (Burlington Central) – Lindsey Wilkening, junior, defender. Wilkening played in 19 games and started 18 times, including the first 16 contests of the season… played 491 consecutive minutes to start the season, the longest streak on the team… did not leave the field until late in the first half of the Western Kentucky loss (game 6)… ranked fourth on the team in minutes played (1,469), averaging 77.3 per contest… assisted on Kathleen Hayes' game-winning goal against Ball State and Michelle Steinhaus' second score versus Jacksonville State… played the entire game nine times total, including victories against Eastern Michigan, Indiana State, Ball State and Eastern Kentucky.

 

FRANKFORT (Lincoln-Way East) – Angela Ziemba, freshman, midfielder/forward. Ziemba played in 14 games and started twice, the Western Illinois and Eastern Kentucky contests… was the first member of EIU's freshman class to score, netting the third goal in the home-opening win against Indiana State… also assisted on Kaitlin Sullivan's goal against Tennessee Tech… played a season-high 63 minutes in the draw against Western Illinois… played at least 20 minutes in 12 of the 14 games in which she played… put both of her shots on goal in her collegiate debut, the season-opening win at Eastern Michigian.

 

GODFREY (Marquette Catholic) – Laura Ridolfi, sophomore, midfielder. Ridolfi played in 15 games and started the regular-season contest against Samford… also played a season-high 66 minutes in that game against Samford… saw her most action of the season in the final three games of OVC play, logging 50 minutes at Murray State and 29 in the must-win game against Jacksonville State… averaged 40.5 minutes per game during the final four games of the regular-season… also played 23 minutes in the season-opening win at Eastern Michigan.

 

HEYWORTH (Normal U-High) – Sophie Somers, freshman, midfielder. Somers played in 12 games and started four times, including the first three contests of the year… also started the Ball State win… played 40-plus minutes in the first three games, including a season-high 57 minutes in the opener at Eastern Michigan… saw action in the first four OVC contests.

 

LEMONT (Lemont) – Michelle Steinhaus, senior, forward. Second Team All-OVC… OVC All-Tournament Team… Steinhaus played in all 20 games and started 18 times… scored twice in wins against Eastern Michigan and Austin Peay to finish her career with four two-goal performances… also scored against Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri… her eight goals this season were the most by a Panther since 2004… finished her career ranked among the active OVC leaders in goals, points and game-winning goals… with goals in the back-to-back games against APSU and SEMO, it marked the fifth time in her career that she scored in consecutive games… her goals against APSU (3:07) and WKU (3:12) were the two quickest goals scored by a Panther this season… logged 80-plus minutes in each of the last eight games of the year, including a season-high 92 in the overtime win at Murray State in the opening round of the OVC Tournament… registered a team-high five shots in the OVC Tournament loss to Samford en route to earning All-Tourney Team honors… Eastern posted a 17-3-1 record when she scored during her career… OVC Rankings: second in game-winning goals, fifth in goals and seventh in shots… EIU All-Time Rankings: second in game-winning goals (11), fourth in goals (25) and fifth in points (57).

 

MOKENA (Lincoln-Way East) – Ashley Slota, junior, defender. OVC Defensive Player of the Week… Slota started all 20 games, extending her consecutive games started streak to 32… will enter her senior season with the longest starting streak on the team… led the team in minutes played (1,753), going the distance in 13 of the 20 games… scored the game-winning goal following a corner kick in the first half of the Tennessee Tech victory… the goal was eerily similar to the game-winner she scored on the same end of the field in the 2006 OVC Tournament win against Tennessee-Martin… earned her first OVC Defensive Player of the Week honor after playing 164 of the 180 minutes during the shutout weekend against Tech and Austin Peay… assisted on EIU's first goal of the year, Michelle Steinhaus' score at Eastern Michigan, and the Alexis Miller's goal at Southeast Missouri… Eastern is 2-0 when she has scored a goal during her career.

 

NAPERVILLE (Neuqua Valley) – Jenny Bock, senior, defender/midfielder. Bock played in all 20 games and started 10 times, including the final two games of the regular-season and the OVC Tournament semifinal match against Samford… also started five straight games during non-conference play… played the entire game four times, including three straight games in September and the tourney semifinals… played 342 consecutive minutes in September… versatile player saw action in dual role as a midfielder-defender and starter-nonstarter… registered a shot in each of the final four games of the season.

 

ORLAND PARK (Sandburg) – Pam Melinauskas, junior, forward. Melinauskas played in 19 games and started the must-win contest against Jacksonville State… scored the game-tying goal with 5:18 remaining in regulation in the OVC Tournament win at Murray State… also scored EIU's third goal in the win against Tennessee Tech… assisted on Kellie Floyd's second goal in the home-opening win against Indiana State… played a season-high 51 minutes in the JSU win… was playing her best as the season wound down, averaging 42 minutes per game over the final five matches of the year… registered a pair of shots in a game six times... each of her four career goals have come against OVC foes… Eastern is 4-0 when she has scored a goal during her career.

 

PARK RIDGE (Maine South) – Kathleen Hayes, senior, midfielder. First Team All-OVC… OVC All-Tournament Team… Hayes started all 19 games she played in… ranked third on the team in minutes played, going the distance eight times… scored the game-winning goal in EIU's most impressive non-conference victory of the year, a 1-0 win against Mid-American Conference champion Ball State… that score was selected as the team's goal of the year by her teammates… headed in a corner kick a week later against Western Illinois to give the Panthers a halftime lead… registered her first collegiate assist on Kaitlin Sullivan's goal against Tennessee Tech… recorded a shot in 11 straight games during the hear of the season… played all 186 minutes of the two OVC Tournament games to earn her second career OVC All-Tournament honor… cemented her reputation as one of the top all-around central midfielders in program history… Eastern posted a 6-0-1 record when she scored during her career.

 

PEORIA HEIGHTS (Peoria Notre Dame) – Meghan Ryon, senior, defender. ESPN the Magazine Third Team Academic All-America… ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-District V… Ryon played in 19 games and started 15, including 12 straight during the first half of the season… became the program's first Academic All-America selection after earning All-District honors for the second year in a row… ranked fifth among the EIU field players in minutes played, going the distance eight times… played 401 consecutive minutes early in the season, the second-longest streak on the team this year… went the distance in big wins against Ball State and Jacksonville State… returned from an ankle injury that held her out of the OVC Tournament win at Murray State to play 74 minutes in the semifinals against Samford… assisted on Rachel Hamilton's goal in the season-opening win at Eastern Michigan and Michelle Steinhaus' score in the victory at Eastern Kentucky.

 

QUINCY (Quincy) – Jenny Williams, sophomore, goalkeeper. OVC Goalkeeper of the Week… Williams started all 17 games she played in… earned OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors after shutting out Indiana State in the home opener and making a career-high 12 saves at nationally-ranked Missouri… those dozen saves represent the most during head coach's Tim Nowak's three-year tenure… also posted solo shutouts against Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay and Jacksonville State… played 82 of the 90 minutes of the Tennessee Tech shutout as well… came up big with high-save total in impressive wins against Eastern Michigan (6), Ball State (7) and Murray State (6) in the OVC Tournament… dating back to September 2006, did not allow a goal at home in more than a calendar year and 979 minutes of game action until Samford ended the streak on Oct. 26… nine of her 12 career shutouts have come against OVC foes… OVC Rankings: second in shutouts, fourth in goals against average, eighth in saves and ninth in save percentage… EIU All-Time Rankings: second in shutouts (12), second in goals against average (1.10), fourth in minutes (3,265) and fifth in saves (136).

 

SPRINGFIELD (Sacred Heart-Griffin) – Rachel Hamilton, sophomore, forward. Hamilton played in all 20 games and started 19 times… the only game she didn't start was Senior Day against Jacksonville State… ranked second on the team with five assists, setting up goals by: Alexis Miller at Bowling Green, Kellie Floyd's first goal against Indiana State, Kathleen Hayes' game-winner versus Ball State, Floyd at Eastern Kentucky and Miller at Southeast Missouri… also scored herself in the season-opening win at Eastern Michigan and against Western Illinois, tying the game in the first half against rival Western… averaged nearly 60 minutes played per match, logging a season-high 86 minutes in the draw with Western… Eastern is 2-1-1 when she has scored during her career… OVC Rankings: eighth in assists.

 

SPRINGFIELD (Springfield) – Missy Faller, redshirt-freshman, midfielder. Faller played in eight games, five of which were OVC contests… logged a season-high 25 minutes in the win against Tennessee Tech… also logged double-figure minutes (12) in the regular-season finale versus Illinois State… challenged the opposing goalkeeper with both of the shots she registered.

 

WOODRIDGE (Downers Grove South) – Sarah Rusk, freshman, midfielder. Rusk played in 16 games and started four times, including three OVC contests… started both games during the shutout weekend against Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay… her first career goal was of the game-tying variety in the second half of the overtime loss at Tennessee-Martin… also assisted on Michelle Steinhaus' early goal versus Western Kentucky, the same game that she made her first start in… played a season-high 84 minutes in the OT loss at UTM… saw action off the bench in both OVC Tournament contests… logged double-figure minutes in 10 straight games during the heart of the season.

 

 

CLAWSON, Mich. (Clawson) – Cassie Shear, sophomore, defender. Shear played in 11 games and started twice, the road games at Bowling Green and Tennessee-Martin… logged double-figures minutes in eight of the 11 games she played in… played a season-high 68 minutes in the overtime loss at Tennessee-Martin… also logged 50-plus minutes against Eastern Michigan and Western Illinois.

O'FALLON, Mo. (St. Joseph's Academy) – Danielle Flynn, freshman, defender. Flynn played in 13 games and started twice, the season opener at Eastern Michigan and home opener against Indiana State… assisted on Kellie Floyd's first goal in the Indiana State win… also played a season-high 61 minutes in the home opener… averaged 46 minutes played in the first four games of the year… also logged double-figure minutes at Loyola and versus Tennessee Tech and Illinois State.

ST. PETERS, Mo. (Incarnate Word Academy) – Alexis Miller, sophomore, midfielder. Miller played in all 20 games and started 18, coming off the bench in only the Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay contests… led the team in assists while ranking second in goals and points… her six assists were the most by a Panther since 2004… scored two of her four goals by bending a corner kick inside the near post, accomplishing the feat against Austin Peay and at Murray State in the opening round of the OVC Tournament… the goal at Murray came in overtime and lifted EIU into the tourney semifinals… became just the second Panther to score a golden goal in the OVC Tournament… recorded her first career multi-assist game with two helpers in the draw against Western Illinois… also registered her first game with a goal and an assist in the loss at Southeast Missouri… for the season assisted on: Michelle Steinhaus' early goal against Western Kentucky, Rachel Hamilton and Kathleen Hayes' goals versus Western Illinois, Ashley Slota's goal against Tennessee Tech, Steinhaus' goal at SEMO, and the first of Steinhaus' two goals in the OVC finale versus Jacksonville State… logged 80-plus minutes four times, including a season-high 84 at SEMO… with Steinhaus graduating, will enter her junior season as the only active Panther with a non-conference, OVC and post-season goal on her résumé… also ranks as the program's active leader in goals, assists and points… Eastern is 3-2-1 when she has scored during her career… OVC Rankings: fourth in assists.

WILDWOOD, Mo. (St. Joseph's Academy) – Kaylin Lorbert, freshman, goalkeeper. Lorbert played in eight games and started three times… started three games in September against Western Kentucky, Western Illinois and Loyola… came up big in the draw with Western, making a season-high eight saves… was perfect in relief, not allowing a goal in the five games that she played in off the bench – a composite total of 118 minutes… played the entire second half at Bowling Green and versus Illinois State… finished off the shutout of Tennessee Tech, playing the final eight minutes.

Eastern's schedule/results page at the NSCAA

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID