Two close games allowed the Panthers to pick up their seventieth win at Lakeside Field.

Eastern (2-1-1) defeated Loyola 2-1 at Lakeside Field in the Panthers’ second straight overtime game. Eastern tied DePaul 1-1 on Friday.

Freshman forward Rachel Hamilton scored the game-winning goal in the 106th minute against the Ramblers, with a chip shot into the upper left corner of the net. It was Hamilton’s first career goal.

“It feels great. It was a team effort all around,” junior forward Kellie Floyd said.

Floyd had the assist on the game-winning goal and scored in the 50th minute with a shot twelve yards from the right side as it sailed past Loyola goalie Emily Peick.

“We came out the second half and changed up our system a little bit,” Floyd said.

Eastern picked up their intensity during the second half with seven shots while Loyola had only three. And the Panthers had two shots while Loyola recorded none during the overtime period.

“I think our players just got kind of sick for laying down for Loyola the way we have in the past” said Eastern head coach Tim Nowak.

The Panthers had not won a game in overtime at Lakeside Field since 2004 against Southeast Missouri.

“It wasn’t good enough to tie,” Nowak said. “Every time we play Loyola, we back off,”

This was not the case on Sunday. The Panthers were able to capitalize on the corner kicks by recording 11 to Loyola’s one.

“We capitalized on chances,” Nowak said. “We tried to carry on the attacking mentality.”

Both of the games this weekend were physical. Heather Lau of Loyola received a yellow card during the second half of Sunday’s game.

“Physically, (Loyola) come at you with size,” said Nowak.

Senior midfielder Trish Walter received a yellow card on Friday’s match against DePaul.

“We tried to attack them physically,” said DePaul head coach John Wilson. “It’s pretty typical for our two teams. It’s similar to the Big East. They’ll prepare us for teams later on.”

On Friday, Eastern and DePaul played to a tie even with the two 10-minute overtime periods. Junior forward Michelle Steinhaus scored Eastern’s goal midway through the second half after DePaul scored early in the game.

“We had a tough game on Friday,” Hamilton said.

But even with the tough games this weekend, the Panthers emerged with a win and a draw.

“I’m just really proud of the team and the character they’re showing,” Nowak said.

The Panthers get back into action when they host Eastern Michigan Friday at 4 p.m.

Freshman defender AJ Brewer kicks the ball away from Depaul’s senior midfielder Kelly DeBaene during Friday’s tie game at Lakeside Field. Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News

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