Second place.

Morehead State has never been in this position before. In the entire history of Eagle soccer, this is their best finish.

Eastern and Morehead State play at 5 p.m. on Friday at Bulldog Field in Birmingham, Ala.

This marks the first time Morehead State makes a return to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament since 2004.

Eastern head coach Tim Nowak said they do a good job defensively and have size and speed.

“Everything you need to have to get to this point in the year,” he said.

For Morehead State to make the tournament is remarkable considering its history.

In 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003 the Eagles did not win any conference games and posted a 0-22-1 record.

“Every team is getting better,” said senior midfielder Trisha Walter.

In the past three years the scales have been tipping both directions for the Eagles. In 2004, they finished 9-9-1, 4-4-0.

But in 2005, the Eagles finished 6-11-2, 3-6-0.

“They’ve gotten aggressive and got better players,” Walter said. “Soccer’s not fun if you’re going to walk all over every team.”

Morehead State head coach Erin Aubry is leading the Eagles to their best season in only her second season in the OVC.

“Coaches have to implement their philosophies and get their team to respond,” Nowak said.

Aubry’s work has paid off. Aubry was named the 2005 Brine OVC Coach of the Year.

Nowak is also in his second season in the OVC. Nowak has led the Panthers to the OVC Conference semifinals for the eighth consecutive time.

Eastern only needs one victory to make the OVC Finals for the eighth consecutive time.

And they want the championship.

“That’s all that matters to me. Walking away with the win,” Walter said.

This year Morehead State received the number two seeding by finishing 7-7-3, 5-1-3. It is their best OVC finish. The Eagles are undefeated in their last six games (3-0-3), while Eastern is on a three-game winning streak.

“They’re a team with a lot of confidence,” said Nowak.

First Team All-Conference players forward Rebekah Kendall and goalkeeper Leslie King lead Morehead State.

Kendall leads the team and is third in the conference with eight goals. She also leads the conference with 79 shots.

“She’s one of the dangerous elements,” Nowak said.

King was named the 2006 OVC Defensive Player of the Year and is third in the conference with 121 saves.

Eastern and Morehead State have only played each other once in the OVC Tournament. The No. 1 seeded Panthers won 3-1 over the No. 4 seeded Eagles in the 2000 OVC Tournament.

Eastern has always finished in first or second in the conference.

“Playing hard games prepares us for where are now,” said junior forward Kellie Floyd. Floyd was named one of the 2006 OVC Co-Players of the Year along with Samford’s Sharon Young.

“We wanted to come back to prove a point,” Floyd said. “As coach said, (Samford is) like a second home to us.”

The Panthers will try to upset the number two seed, Morehead State and advance to the OVC Tournament Final.

The Panthers were picked second in the preseason poll. They finished third. Eastern will be looking for a win on Friday to get back into the OVC Finals where they have been for the past seven years.

“It definitely stuck to us,” Floyd said. “It’s been our drive.”