Less than two weeks ago, the idea that the Eastern women’s soccer team would be entering their Ohio Valley Conference finale playing meaningful matches seemed ludicrous.

Following a 2-1 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 10, the Panthers were 0-12-1 and had only scored two goals during those 13 matches. However, after a 2-0-1 stretch that included three straight shutouts, combined with the overall weakness of the OVC this season, the Panthers remain in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Thus enter Sunday’s OVC finale against Southeast Missouri. The Panthers sit in a tie for sixth place, the last spot in the OVC tournament.

If Eastern can get a win, as well as a little help, they will be playing in the OVC Tournament opening round match on Nov. 4.

Regardless of what happens this weekend, the fact the Panthers are playing meaningful matches this late in the season is a credit to their perseverance. Not often in sports does a team that is winless through 13 contests get a chance to make the playoffs, especially in an 18-match season.

Eastern head coach Tim Nowak said continuously throughout the season that he saw his team improving. As loss after loss piled up, he preached patience and never panicked. While it would be obvious to say Nowak hoped his team would’ve gotten off to a quicker start, he’s not all surprised with how his team has been playing of late.

“We’ve known all year that this is what we’re capable of,” said Nowak after the team capped off an undefeated weekend with a 0-0 tie at Austin Peay on Sunday. “I think we might’ve needed some more points this weekend, but to go on the road and get a win and a tie, that’s not a bad thing. We just hope it’s enough right now.”

Although the Panthers were picked to finish third in the OVC in the preseason coaches’ poll, it would be completely understandable to expect a down year from the program. After all, the team has 12 underclassmen – including seven freshmen – and has only three seniors on the team.

However, Nowak’s expectations never wavered. He never used his young team as an excuse for the losing, and the results of his patience with the team is starting to pay off as two of them took home league awards for their performances over the weekend. Freshman defender Sam Balek won the league’s defensive player of the week award and sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert won goalkeeper of the week for the second time this season after back-to-back shutouts.

If the team ends up in the OVC tournament, it’s not absurd to assume they could win a match or two, but it all comes down to this weekend.

First, the team has to take care of business against Southeast Missouri. With seniors Pam Melinauskas, Ashley Slota and Lindsey Wilkening being honored before the game, emotions should be running high as the Panthers will look to carry over the momentum from last weekend into this face off.

After that, it’s up to the rest of the league. Either Tennessee Tech or Jacksonville State must lose both of their weekend matches for the Panthers to get in the playoffs. Tennessee Tech goes on the road for matches with UT Martin (3-2-1) and first place Murray State (5-1-0). Jacksonville State will play host to the top two teams in the conference over the weekend with matches against Murray State and Eastern Kentucky (4-3-0).

So the prospects of the Panthers’ two main competitors losing appear likely, but the team must take care of business themselves.

Win on Sunday, and hope things fall into place. Either way, it’s been an unlikely finish for the Panthers.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.