After playing on the road for the team’s first six games, the men’s soccer team will finally play at home.

The Panthers play Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeside Field.

“It may sound weird, but there is no better feeling than waking up in Charleston on game day,” said senior midfielder Brad Earl.

The team is excited to play in front of the student body, Earl said.

Junior goalkeeper Mark Hansen echoes the same sentiments about finally playing at Lakeside.

“The whole team is excited,” Hansen said.

Lakeside is different from many of the fields because it is not an entirely flat surface. Hansen thinks this might be an advantage for the Panthers.

“The field is kind of hard to play on, but it is the same for the other team,” Hansen said. “The only difference is we are used to playing on it.

Lock it down

After finishing 3-2-1 at home last season Eastern head coach Adam Howarth has a definite goal for this season.

“We want to claim Lakeside Field,” Howarth said. “Our goal is to lock this place down and make it a fortress.”

The Panthers will definitely have this opportunity as seven of the teams next 12 games are at home.

Of the seven games, three are Missouri Valley Conference games. The Panthers were 1-1-1 at Lakeside Field last season in MVC home games.

“We want to get as many people at home games as possible,” Howarth said. “The crowd is very important and can give the team a boast in the beginning. That is where lots of games are won and lost.”

Peters off to hot start

Junior forward Brad Peters is off to a fantastic start and is one of the reasons the Panthers are 4-1-1 this season.

Peters leads the Missouri Valley Conference in points with six and is tied for second in goals with three. Peters also leads the MVC in assists with three.

“Brad has grown up as a player and a person,” Howarth said. “He has always been a goal scorer, but now he is stronger on the ball, he holds the ball well, and has great touch.”

Peters had a streak of three straight games with game winning goals after finding the back of the net in victories against Lipscomb, Oral Roberts and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

No. 5 in the Midwest

The Panthers moved up four spots in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to No. 5 in the Midwest as of Sept. 11. The team moved up from the ninth spot after victories against Oral Roberts and UMKC.

“The guys are aware of the polls,” Howarth said. “We do not make a big deal out of it.”

Of the Panthers seven remaining regular season games, three are against teams currently ranked in the Midwest. Creighton leads the way at No. 2, with Western Illinois at No. 6 and Missouri State at No. 10. Creighton is also ranked nationally at No. 16.