Although the two powerhouses, Ohio State and Northwestern, are out of way in the Eastern men’s soccer team’s non-conference schedule, the next week for the Panthers may be their biggest test. Eastern will be tested physically and mentally, as they will play three matches from Oct. 8 to Oct. 15.

The back-to-back-to-back matches mean the Panthers will have less time to focus on a single opponent, fewer days off, and must bring their best effort any time they are on the pitch.

“Right now the guys are in our own set in terms of what we need to do,” Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said. “Its just preparation, keeping things ticking over and just making sure we are ready to go for the next game.”

Howarth told his players after practice Monday to get their bodies ready as the Panthers start the grueling finish to their non-conference schedule.

The three matches for the Panthers will not be an easy task as they travel to Macomb to play in-state rival Western Illinois on Wednesday. Eastern will then get its first matches at Lakeside Field in 23 days when they host Oral Roberts on Oct. 13. Just two days later, the team will travel to Bradley for the beginning of Missouri Valley Conference play.

Eastern lost to Western 3-0 last season at home, while winning a tough overtime match 1-0 against Oral Roberts at the Missouri-Kansas City Invite. Eastern fell to Bradley twice last season – once at home 2-1 and 2-0 in the second round of the MVC Tournament to finish the season. The Panthers also enter this tough three-match stretch on a two-match losing streak.

Eastern was also shut out in both matches, and it’s the first time the Panthers have been shut out in consecutive matches since Oct. 2001.

“We haven’t been doing anything different,” junior defender Chris Pearson said. “The ball just didn’t want to go in the back of the net. I know (senior forward Brad Peters) and (sophomore forward Alex Harrison) – everyone has confidence in them to score goals.”

The Panthers have played two matches in the same weekend twice already this season, but they have not played with the frequency they will in the three matches in eight-day stretch. After conference play begins on Oct. 15, the Panthers close out their season with six matches in 24 days. Eastern is a veteran team that has experience, understands the importance of conference play and knows how to win soccer matches.

Although the offense has slowed through the past two matches, I do not expect the Panthers to stay cold for long. The pace of the next week for the Panthers will be hectic, but once MVC play comes around, the frantic end to their non-conference schedule will pay off.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.