Eastern Illinois University Athletics

 

The Panthers (7-8-5, 3-3-2 OVC) scored in every home game for the first time since 2003, extending their consecutive games with a goal streak at Lakeside Field to 12 dating back to 2008. That represents the second longest streak in program history.

 

Picked eighth (of nine) in the OVC preseason poll, EIU finished tied for fourth place. The Panthers extended their conference record of consecutive OVC Tournament berths to 11. Eastern remains the only league team that has qualified for the annual postseason event every year it has been held. Dating back to its days as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, EIU has participated in 14 consecutive conference tournaments.

 

Behind goals from Sarah Rusk and Kaitlin Sullivan early in the second half, EIU had a 2-0 lead against Tennessee Tech in the opening round of the tournament. But Tech’s Jen Hoffman, the OVC Offensive Player of the Year, responded with three unanswered goals, completing the hat trick in the opening minute of double overtime. The Golden Eagles went on to upset tournament host Morehead State in the semifinals before losing to Murray State in the finals.

 

Two of EIU’s final three games ended in overtime heartbreak at Morehead. Earlier in the season, the Panthers posted their first overtime victory at home since 2006 with a win against Western Illinois. Sullivan scored the game-winner at Lakeside Field, helping EIU end a four-game winless streak against its cross-state rival and make Perala a winner in her first game against her alma mater.

 

Eastern finished the year 4-1-4 at home. The lone loss came on Sept. 6 against a Miami (Ohio) team that went on to rank second in the Mid-American Conference with 11 overall victories. The Panthers trailed at one time during four other home games but scored equalizers to salvage draws. The five ties this season matched a program high.

2008 Season Recap: Resilient Panthers Finish Strong

After remaining resilient through a rough start to its campaign, Eastern Illinois women’s soccer strung together three consecutive shutout efforts in October to jumpstart its season and keep its streak of Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearances alive.

 

Beginning with an Oct. 12 victory against Morehead State, the Panthers scored six goals during a 3-1-1 stretch to close the regular season. Eastern traveled to Morehead for the opening round of the OVC Tournament and led 1-0 at the half. But the Eagles scored twice in the second half to eliminate EIU, en route to winning the six-team event.

 

However, Eastern is the only OVC program that has qualified for the conference tournament every year the event has been held – 10 seasons and counting. Senior Pam Melinauskas represented the Panthers on the All-OVC First Team, giving EIU at least one First Team All-Conference performer for the 14th consecutive year.

 

Eastern entered its home finale against rival Southeast Missouri riding a shutout streak of 355 consecutive scoreless minutes and needing a win to clinch an OVC Tournament berth. Melinauskas and Sam Kohen scored first-half goals and the Panther defense held strong in the face of a relentless SEMO attack. Even though the shutout streak ended at 434 minutes, EIU won the game and celebrated a tourney berth-clinching victory.

2007 Season Recap: Individual Honors, OT Tournament Win Highlight Year

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.