Nine freshmen made their collegiate debut for the Eastern men’s soccer team Tuesday at Lakeside Field, but it was a newcomer from Valparaiso that stole the show.

Freshman midfielder Jaymie Bullard scored twice for the Crusaders as they spoiled the Panthers’ season opener with a 2-0 victory.

“We hope he keeps it up, we told him on the bench after that if he kept this up he would finish with 160 goals in his career,” Valparaiso (1-0) head coach Mike Avery said.

Bullard scored his first goal in the fourth minute from the left side of the goal after a right-to-left crossing pass from junior defender Ken Perkins.

The goal to put the game out of reach came in the 54th minute when Bullard was able to score once more as the ball was bobbled in the center of the goal, until he was able to maintain possession and beat Eastern junior transfer goalkeeper Sean Molony.

Eastern (1-0) was able to muster seven shots in the first half, but only one of them reached the goal.

The Panthers’ best chance came in the second half when junior defender Kyle Zumski nearly put one in the top left corner, but missed the back of the net by inches.

“I went to cross it in the first time. and I actually hit it off the kids’ face,” Zumski said. “It came right back to me, I saw an opening and just let it rip. It was a little bit wide, unfortunately.”

He thought the ball might go in because it started to tail toward the goal when he fit it.

“We had chances and showed spurts, but we could just never get going,” said Eastern coach Adam Howarth. “The energy level was just not there today. We have to do a better job as a coaching staff and be ready to go Friday.”

He said the passing was not good, and the team had a tough time getting the ball to junior forward Alex Harrison’s feet.

Howarth said he was impressed with the performances from a number of his young players including Zumski, sophomore midfielder Ryan Child and freshman midfielder Jerry Maddi.

Zumski finished with a shot on goal, Child had one shot on goal while controlling the pace in the middle of the field and Maddi has a team high three shots.

“I think all of our young players did a very good job, we just need to make sure the older players continue to step up and work hard as well,” Howarth said.

Avery knew it would be a tight match because both teams are similar.

“I think the first goal gave us a little bit of confidence and relaxed us a little bit,” Avery said. “The second goal I think that just kills the game off. Really the difference was just in the finishing.”

Molony finished the matches with four saves and two goals allowed. Crusader junior goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz recorded the shutout with four saves.

The referees were active in the contest giving out seven yellow cards, five to Eastern and two to Valpo.

“We have to work on our defending a little bit we have to work on our midfield movement a little bit, getting to the ball and getting open,” Zumski said.

Twenty of Eastern’s 22 players saw playing time in the match. Senior defender Chris Pearson was injured early in the second half and did not return to the match.

The team will return to action at 6 p.m. Friday as the Panthers play Mercer in Peoria at the Bradley Kickoff Invitational.

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

Sophomore forward Ryan Child tries to split Valparaiso defenders Tuesday afternoon at Lakeside Field. The Panthers lost 2-0 to Valparaiso. (Amir Prellberg/The Daily Eastern News)

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Eastern freshman midfielder Kyle Bullock (right) fights for the ball against Valparaiso sophomore midfielder Clayton Lyons on Tuesday afternoon at Lakeside Field. (Amir Prellberg/The Daily Eastern News)

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