Sophomore defender A.J. Brewer made her Lakeside Field debut Sunday against Austin Peay.

Brewer played 17 minutes in the 3-0 win.

“She’s a tough kid and wants to play, ” said Eastern head women’s soccer coach Tim Nowak. “Unfortunately, she’s a little gimpy on an ankle right now. She gets out there and she wants to help her team. It’s a shame she’s hurting like she is. She’s a very positive force on the team.”

Nowak said the players were happy to see Brewer get some playing time on Sunday.

Brewer made her first appearance of the season in Sunday’s 3-0 loss at Missouri.

Brewer played 12 minutes off the bench.

“I wish she could have stayed in a little longer,” said junior defender Lindsey Wilkening at the time. “But she’s got to heal.”

Brewer had two assists last season. The Fairview Heights native was named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer and the First-Team last year.

Nowak said Brewer is dealing with multiple types of injuries and she’s working her way back onto the season.

Brewer played all 20 matches last season. She was the first freshman since current senior forward Michelle Steinhaus to be named to the first team in 2004.

Williams notches another shutout

Sophomore goalkeeper Jenny Williams registered her fourth shutout of the year and the 11th of her career on Sunday.

Williams was out for two games this season with an injury from Western Kentucky, Western Illinois and Loyola (Chicago). She returned to the net against Eastern Kentucky and has started all matches against OVC opponents.

“She’s a competitor and takes a lot of pride in what she does back there,” Nowak said. “She’s been a tough person to score on at home.”

Williams has not given up a goal this season at home.

The Quincy native made 73 saves last season and gave up 19 goals in 20 games. Williams has given up eight goals in 10 games.

The 2006 Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team member notched six shutouts in the final eight games last season.

Williams gave up four goals in a 4-2 loss at Wright State last season. It has been the most in her career.

Panthers train on turf

The Panthers will play at Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m. Friday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The Redhawks do not play on a regular soccer surface. They play at Houck Stadium, which is also the home of the football team and play on field turf.

The Panthers will practice at O’Brien Stadium at night under the lights this week to prepare for the game.

“It’s gets the Panthers excited,” Nowak said. “It’s a different level of focus. There are no distractions around. They’re able to separate their school day from practice.”

The team prepares for a faster game of soccer because of the field surface.

The Panthers will practice when they play at Samford in Birmingham, Ala. The Bulldogs also play on a field turf at Bulldog Soccer Stadium.

Last season, the Panthers lost 2-1 in overtime at Samford in the regular season, and Morehead State defeated the Panthers 1-0 in the semifinals of the OVC Tourney in Birmingham.

A lot of firsts for weekend

Freshman defender Caitlyn Eisenhauer notched her first collegiate assist on Sunday against Austin Peay when she sent the ball to Steinhaus.

“I was just looking to clear it because there was pressure coming on,” Eisenhauer said. “And I really wasn’t looking for anyone specific and (Steinhaus) happened to be there.”

Freshman forward Kaitlin Sullivan scored her first collegiate goal in the 61st minute off a touch from freshman midfielder Angela Ziemba on Friday. Sullivan scored when she ran into the box from 12 yards out and beat Tennessee Tech senior goalkeeper Loretta McNamee.

Junior defender Ashley Slota scored near the end of the first half for her second collegiate goal. Slota scored in the 44th minute when sophomore midfielder Alexis Miller crossed the ball into the top of the box after a free kick. The ball bounced off Slota’s foot and into the back of the net.

Corner kicks become valuable

On Sunday, sophomore midfielder Alexis Miller added an insurance goal in the 75th minute off a corner kick. Miller’s kick went in after Austin Peay’s sophomore goalkeeper Michelle Smith misplayed the ball and the ball went through.

Miller also notched an assist against Western Illinois on Sept. 21 when she drove the ball from the right side and senior midfielder Kathleen Hayes scored. However, the Panthers would battle to a 2-2 draw.

Miller leads the team with four assists this year and took 3-of-8 corner kicks on Sunday. Last season the Panthers led the Ohio Valley Conference in corner kicks. They had 109. Their opponents combined for 65.

Through 12 games this season, the Panthers have 58 corner kicks.

Steinhaus moves up in record books

Steinhaus is second all-time in game-winning goals and seventh all-time in points in Eastern history.

The Lemont native has five goals this season, which ties last year’s mark. Before the season began Steinhaus was fourth all-time in game-winning goals. She is tied with Tracie Strother at 10 game-wining goals. Strother was an All-Great Lakes Region Selection, NSCAA Scholar Athlete and earned multiple honors from the OVC and the Missouri Valley Conference.

Rachel Hamilton, sophmore forward, splits two Tennessee Tech defenders before attempting a shot on goal Friday afternoon at Lakeside Field.

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