One of the biggest concerns for the Eastern men’s soccer team coming into this season was the goalkeeper position.

Coming into the season, no one at the goalkeeper spot had any Division I experience. Mark Hansen graduated and the two other goalkeepers on last year’s roster transferred.

Junior transfer Sean Molony has filled the void and proven he has what it takes to step between the poles.

Molony has started all 11 matches for the Panthers and has already recorded four shutouts. His 4.27 saves per match are tops in the Missouri Valley Conference.

“We always knew he would be an impact goalkeeper,” Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said. “He has done a really great job, especially in games. We are really happy with how (we are) progressing. He is working hard and making some big saves for us. He is getting better each game.”

Molony, a transfer from Fort Lewis College, played Division II soccer last season. He said there is not that much of a difference between that and Division I.

“The main difference is that Division I soccer is faster,” Molony said. “There are a lot more athletes that are bigger, faster and stronger.”

He said he is not surprised by his early success, but in fact, is thankful.

“It is not just me getting the shutouts, it is the back four,” Molony said. “The only thing I can do is my part. The rest is up to the other 10 guys on the field.”

Molony will try to record his fifth shutout of the season as Eastern hosts Bradley at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Field.

The Braves (5-6-1, 0-4 MVC) enter the match on a four-match losing streak, all of which comes against MVC opponents.

Molony said Eastern (4-5-2, 1-3) is hoping to continue that streak and get a positive result this weekend.

Howarth said they have changed their style of play this season.

“They used to be very direct in the past, but this year they have gone into a zonal marking system,” Howarth said. “They are still trying to find themselves with that new system.”

Howarth said although Bradley has lost a couple of matches recently, Eastern’s players must focus on themselves and what they need to do in order to win.

Eastern played its worst match of the season Sunday at Creighton. The Panthers lost 5-1, and were down 3-0 at halftime.

Howarth said the team went back to basics during practice this week.

“I did some offensive stuff, some defensive stuff,” Howarth said. “I am just making sure that they enjoy playing and getting out there. The biggest thing though is being at home. I think that is going to make a huge factor. If we can’t get up for this game, we are going to struggle getting up for most games.”

Molony said the Panthers must forget about the match against Creighton.

“We have to move forward and get back to the things that we do well,” Molony said. “We just have to make sure we don’t have the same sort of mistakes that we had in the last game.”

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