Editor’s Note: Top Cat is a weekly award The Daily Eastern News gives out to the top performance by an Eastern athlete from the previous week. This week’s recipient is senior women’s soccer player Kathleen Hayes. Hayes scored the Panthers’ lone goal in their 1-0 win against Ball State last Friday.

Although senior Kathleen Hayes was known as a strong leader for her team, she hadn’t scored a goal since her sophomore season.

That streak came to an end Friday.

Hayes’ ball found the back of the net in the 10th minute to provide the winning goal in Eastern’s 1-0 victory over Ball State last Friday.

“It had been a while (since her last goal),” Tim Nowak, head coach, said. “Some of it, maybe, is the nature of the responsibilities that we give her on the field. She certainly, day-in and day-out in practice, can score goals. We’ve worked on her ability to score in different ways, and she saw the fruits of her labor this weekend.”

“I think her teammates were pretty happy for her because she does a lot of work for her teammates, and her getting that goal was a definite plus for her,” Nowak said.

Teammate and close friend Meghan Ryon said Hayes “looked like she was going to pass it.” “Then she cut it in,” Ryon said. “It was kind of windy and it just cut right in . it was an awesome goal.”

Hayes said the team knew before going into the Ball State match that it would not be a finesse competition.

“We knew coming into the game that we were going to have to be very physical . It wasn’t the prettiest game of soccer, but we came out with the win, and I think everyone gave 100 percent. And that’s all you can ask for, ” Hayes said.

The midfielder talked about her go-ahead goal.

“I got a good first touch and thought I had a shot, so I just shot it and it went in . the wind helped a little, I’m sure,” Hayes said. “But it was nice to score.”

Hayes spent much of last season sidelined with an injury.

“Last year, I was injured for a good amount of time, and I haven’t scored in a while, so it just feels extremely good to help your team out and help contribute to the win,” Hayes said.

Hayes’ score came in the 10th minute of the match. The Lady Panthers were able to keep Ball State scoreless throughout the remainder of the match.

Nowak said Hayes is known for her leadership in the team.

“Kathleen is a definite leader on the field,” Nowak said. “She’s one of our tri-captains, and she’s definitely one of the engines on the field for us . she commands a lot of her respect from her teammates. She holds them accountable for how they perform and how we perform as a team. (She’s) someone who goes out there and does all the little things.”

Ryon said Hayes’ relationship with her off the field is equally strong.

“(Kathleen and I) have a really good relationship. I feel like sometimes we’re even like sisters,” Ryan said.

That type of friendship has translated onto the field as well.

“It helps us trust each other on the field.and our friendship helps us build that trust with each other . and with everybody’s relationship. We try to make our team really close, like family,” Ryan said.

Hayes has contributed to developing the family idea within the Lady Panthers’ squad. Her teammates’ excitement for her after the goal reflected the hard work and leadership qualities Hayes has shown her team over the years.

Nowak feels there is more to come.

“I hope it’s not her last goal of the year,” Nowak said. “And I don’t think it will be.”

Senior women’s soccer midfielder Kathleen Hayes is this week’s Top Cat performer after she scored the Panthers game-winning goal in their 1-0 win against Ball State last Friday.

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