Panthers lose last exhibition game

Eastern lost its last of two exhibition matches Sunday night 4-1 at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. The Cougars are a perennial contender in Division II, are currently ranked 4th in the nation and are coming off a D-II Final Four appearance.

While the Cougars played their starters for the majority of the game, Eastern head coach Adam Howarth used every healthy player on his roster. This match is the final warm-up game before the Panthers travel to the Bowling Green Kelme Tournament Aug. 25-27 in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Senior midfielder Dave Rigby scored the lone goal for the Panthers but Howarth singled out freshmen defender Nick Bonacker, saying he “played tremendously well from his left back spot.”

A wide-open net

While the goalie situation seemed to be set as sophomore Mark Hansen started five of the last six games last season, Howarth has opened up the position to competition. Hansen has been battling against senior Nick Alexander and fellow sophomore Paul Jennison in training camp. Howarth gave each goalie 30 minutes in the net at SIUE, but Hansen was forced to sit due to a sore thumb Friday against St. Xavier. While Howarth is not tipping his hand at to which he is leaning to currently, Hansen is the favorite based on his past successes, which includes a selection to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshmen team.

Open tryouts begin

Howarth began open tryouts Monday night with an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Tryouts will follow tonight at 6 p.m., and another on Wednesday, also at 6 p.m. Howarth expects a turnout of “at least 10 to start out with.” Two sessions have been scheduled to allow for the greatest possible turnout. Howarth said he hopes to find “quality players that can come in and impact the team.”

Alumni game pits Panthers, spotlights 1981 season

The Panthers hosted their annual alumni game Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Field and this season it had additional importance. The program is celebrating its 25th anniversary of the magical 1981 season, where the Panthers finished 3rd in the NCAA Division 1 Tournament. An alumnus from the ’81 season, Joe Aref, participated in the game along with Howarth, assistant coach Dino Raso and dozens of other alums from around the country.

Panthers placed in lower rung

The seven-team MVC placed Eastern fifth in its preseason poll. The conference also tabbed junior midfielder Mick Galeski with a 2006 Honorable Mention Pre-Season All-MVC selection. Coming off of an Elite Eight finish in the NCAA tournament in 2005, Creighton was selected as the preseason favorite. The Panthers have three 2005 MVC All-Freshmen selections, a program record, returning this season in Hansen and sophomore forwards Brad Peters and Adam Gartner.