Senior defender Mike Comiskey took a shot to the ribs Sept. 3 against Missouri-Kansas City and missed the following week of practice as well as the two weekend games.

Comiskey stayed in the game after getting injured but a bone bruise in his left side intensified during the following week. After sitting out just more than week, head coach Adam Howarth said Comiskey should be ready to play Tuesday at Western Illinois.

The Panthers could be without junior transfer Matt Patterson for an extended amount of time. The forward had off-season knee surgery after sustaining a meniscus tear in his right knee. Howarth could not say definitively how much time Patterson would miss, saying only that the Chesterfield, England native’s recovery timetable was “long-term.”

Scoreless in defeat

The Panther defense had their streak of 12 games holding opponents under two goals was broken Sunday in the 2-0 shutout loss to Loyola (Chicago). In each of the Panthers two losses this season, they have been held scoreless. Eastern has been outscored 3-0 in its two losses while outscoring opponents 8-2 in its four victories.

Freshmen contribution

Howarth has relied heavily on two true freshmen to contribute this season. Nick Bonacker has played in all but one game at the left back position. The 6-foot-1 defender adds height on the backline in addition to having a strong left foot.

Evan Philpott has started four out of six games for Howarth. While Philpott is labeled as a forward on the roster, Howarth has used his speed at midfield, supporting starting strikers Brad Peters and Brad Earl. Howarth has also used freshman Ari Horing to spell both Earl and Peters at forward, with Horing coming in as a sub in every game thus far.

Long road trip

The Panthers have played three of their four games at Lakeside Field but for the remainder of their non-conference regular season they will be on the road.

Eastern travels to Western Illinois Tuesday and then will attend the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Nike Soccer Classic Sept. 16-17. At the UW-GB Classic the Panthers will face off against Georgia State Saturday at noon, then take on the hosts Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Panthers then travel to Indianapolis to battle IUPUI before starting Missouri Valley Conference play at Missouri State.

Eastern’s next home game is Oct. 5 against Western Kentucky.