The Eastern men’s soccer team’s 3-0 victory Sunday against Missouri State was similar to the team’s loss Wednesday against Evansville.

Except this time, the breaks went the Panthers way.

After being burned by two goals on restarts against the Purple Aces, the Panthers (4-3-3, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference) scored two restart goals Sunday to bring themselves to .500 in MVC play.

“It was bittersweet,” Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said. “This time we scored two goals on free kicks. There was a great commitment and a great energy. I think we did a great job.”

Eastern opened scoring in the first half on an assist off a free kick by junior forward Alex Harrison, his first of three assists on the day.

After leading the team in shots for most of the season, freshman midfielder Jerry Maddi scored his first goal.

Maddi said the goal was set up after an Eastern defender was fouled on the wing.

He said he beat his man in the box and had an open goal, so he headed the ball in.

“It feels awesome to finally score,” Maddi said. “It was weird that the first one would come with my head and not my foot, but I just tried to get the ball to the net any way I could.”

Maddi said the team felt great after the first goal and were pumped coming into the second half with a lead.

Eastern added two more in the second half to clinch the match.

Sophomore midfielder Jonathan Hinds scored on a two-on-three breakaway in the 70th minute after Eastern cleared a free kick, and senior defender Chris Pearson scored on a header off a free kick by Harrison in the 79th minute.

“That is the great thing about (Pearson),” Howarth said. “Even though he is a defender he is so big and smart, he is always a presence in the box.”

For the fourth time this season, Eastern pitched a shutout. Junior goalkeeper Sean Molony finished the match with nine saves.

Howarth said the defense played a fantastic match and that the luck went Eastern’s way.

“They were very solid, worked hard and showed a lot of commitment out there,” Howarth said. “This was a tough conference game on the road and they took it to the next level.”

Harrison, who now leads the team with seven assists, said this match righted a lot of the wrongs the Panthers committed against Evansville.

“We had great energy for all 90 minutes,” Harrison said. “We had pressure all over the field by everyone so it was hard for them to do anything. We stretched the field and were physical for the full 90 minutes.”

Maddi said he is happy the team is at .500 in the conference.

“This team has had some good results so far this season, but we went in there and won the game,” Maddi said. “We just have to go out there and keep playing this way every game.”

The Panthers continue a three game road trip Wednesday when they travel to Evansville, Ind. to face the Purple Aces at 7 p.m.

Evansville defeated the Panthers 2-0 Wednesday at Lakeside Field.

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