Soccer fans who made the trek down I-57 to see the Eastern men’s soccer team play St. Xavier (Chicago) at Effingham High School Tuesday saw plenty of new faces.

Eastern started seven new players, but the youngsters did not disappoint as they defeated the Cougars 3-2.

Senior midfielder Jeff Kupiec, junior forward Alex Harrison and freshman midfielder Kendal Spurgin each found the back of the net in the exhibition match that consisted of three 30-minute periods.

Kupiec opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 20th minute from the far right side, with Harrison adding another goal 10 minutes later with time winding down in the first period on a free kick to give Eastern the 2-0 lead. St. Xavier battled back, scoring two goals of its own, but Spurgin notched the game winner in the 58th minute with a rising strike from 15 yards out.

Kupiec said because the match was being played at a high school field it was not as big as what they were used to and that the middle was more compact. He said he thought the team performed well for its first match of the season.

“The intensity and the aggression was there,” Kupiec said. “On our field or a different field I think it would have been a different result.”

Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said the effort was good with the team and that with all the new Panthers it will take time for the players to get used to playing with each other.

Seven players from last year’s roster graduated and three others left the team.

Eastern did not return any goalkeepers from last year’s roster, so both junior goalkeeper Sean Molony (transfer from Fort Lewis college in Durango, Col.) and freshman Shailer Thomas made their debuts for Eastern.

The two split time and allowed one goal each with Molony making two saves and Thomas making one.

Junior midfielder Darby Kehoe said the touches were rusty and the conditions were not ideal, but the team battled and played a solid match.

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