Senior Phil Clemmer normally plays in the middle of the defense, but head coach Adam Howarth moved him to the outside Sunday afternoon against Evansville.

The change in strategy worked as the former forward’s speed helped limit the scoring tandem of Cory Elenio and Ian McAuley to just one early goal by McAuley and the offense scored two first half goals on their way to a 3-1 win at Lakeside Field.

It was the Panthers’ first conference win of the season.

“With a victory, I look like a great coach cause it worked. If we had lost it was probably a bad choice,” Howarth said. “I thought with their size in the middle we needed to counter that, but they had all their speed on the wings.”

After falling behind 1-0 in the 21st minute on McAuley’s seventh goal of the season, the Panthers (9-3-1, 1-1-1 MVC) tied the game just five minutes later. In the 26th minute, freshman midfielder Evan Philpott connected on a header for his first goal of the season.

A more experienced scorer, sophomore Brad Peters, gave the Panthers the lead for good in the 32nd minute when he followed a Brad Earl shot and put the rebound just inside the left post for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.

Clemmer wasn’t the only defender that had the challenge of covering Evansville’s two scoring threats.

Junior Eddie Barnes played in his normal spot at outside defender and continued his impressive play.

“Eddie was fantastic today on the other side,” Howarth said. “He’s had such a solid season for us as well.”

Taking Clemmer’s spot in the middle was freshman Chris Pearson.

The 6-foot-3 inch native of England earned his first start of the season and helped the Panthers defense hold the Purple Aces to 12 shots.

Eastern finished the game with 21 shots.

The pace of the game was much faster than Eastern’s last game, and Howarth said his junior captain Mick Galeski pointed out why.

“I think Mick made the comment, ‘They brought their high intensity which helped bring out our high intensity,'” Howarth said. “It was probably the quickest game in terms of ball possession with the way they put pressure on us and the way we responded. We matched it every bit of the way today, we were very worthy of the victory.”

The Panthers first conference victory gives them four points on the season, enough to put them in a tie for third with Bradley.

“We’re one step closer to the conference tournament, that’s what we wanted,” senior midfielder David Amdor said. “It makes it a lot easier when you get the wins early on in conference so it has taken a little bit of pressure off us.”

Amdor was honored in the last of Howarth’s senior days.

He said he was proud that the Panthers won on his day, and he thanked them afterwards.

Clemmer said the win was a good measuring stick for the team.

“It felt good to beat a good team like (Evansville),” he said. “They are a strong team. We play Bradley on Wednesday, (Evansville) gave them a run for their money so it will be a good game. We are looking good right now.”