Men’s soccer coach Adam Howarth believes his team only improves by playing better teams.

Howarth will put this principle in action Oct. 5 when his Panthers face national runner-up Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference and advanced to the National College Athletic Association College Cup against Wake Forest. Ohio State fell 2-1 in the Dec. 16 championship game.

According to the Rating Percentage Index- a combination of a team’s winning percentage, opponent’s average winning percentage and their opponents winning percentage- Ohio State was second out of 202 teams last season. Eastern’s rank was 83.

Howarth said that Eastern has a list server that sends out letters asking teams to play them. The coach said he is ready for the challenge of facing Ohio State.

“We always want to test ourselves,” Howard said. “We decided to take the plunge.”

Ohio State head coach John Bluem said his team doesn’t need to prepare for any special aspect when facing Eastern.

“We will probably be more concerned with our team and the things we need to improve on than the problems that Eastern Illinois will present,” Bluem said.

Last season, the Buckeyes faced Cal State Fullerton (81), Syracuse (91), William & Mary (94), Cal State Bakersfield (149) and Bowling Green (152). Ohio State went 4-0-1 in those games while outscoring their opponents 13-1.

Eastern’s 2007 RPI rating was the third lowest among teams on Ohio State’s 2008 schedule. Only Bowling Green and Florida Gulf Coast had lower rankings.

Bluem said a loss to Eastern would hurt their standings based on last season’s RPI. However, he noted the challenge each team possesses.

“All college matches are difficult as there is little difference between most teams,” Bluem said. “When we face Eastern this year, they may be ranked higher than us.”

Preparations

Ohio State lost seven players to graduation, and one to Major League Soccer after the championship defeat. Two of those players were All-Americans.

The Buckeyes lost goalkeeper Casey Latchem. Latchem was Defensive MVP of the Big Ten Championship, and holds the Ohio State record for shutouts (14).

Bluem said junior Byron Neal is the first choice candidate for goalkeeper after the spring season, but junior transfer Drew Czekanski and redshirt freshman Ryan Dalton will also compete for the job.

Despite these departures, the Buckeyes coach said he will coach the same way, and make adjustments to their style.

Howarth said he is confident the Panthers will continue to improve. His goal is to catch up to Bradley and Creighton, the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Recruitment has been Howarth’s main form of improving the team. Howarth signed bigger players in 2007 (6 foot, 161 lbs. average) and faster players this year to provide a good mix.

This balance for the Panthers allows them to better execute their style of play, Howarth said, and that Eastern is a high pressuring defensive team.

“We go at people from the get go,” he said.

Out of the seven returning seniors, Howarth said midfielder Mike Lewis is the most improved player from 2007, going from the bench to starting lineup. He hopes Lewis will continue to be a defensive force.

Lewis started only once in 2006, but was in the starting lineup 12 out of the 19 games he played in 2007. Howarth said Lewis was hampered by an injury late in the season that prevented him from starting.

Many Panthers are competing in summer leagues throughout the country to hone their skills.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.