The Eastern women’s soccer team has failed to meet expectations through the non-conference portion of its schedule, but I am confident they will turn their season around.

The Panthers are currently under the .500 record mark, but I foresee a strong performance from head coach Summer Perala’s squad in Ohio Valley Conference action.

I have come up with a few reasons why the Panthers will be competing for the Ohio Valley Conference crown in 2010.

1) The defensive play has been nothing short of amazing thus far in 2010.

The suffocating Panther defense, led by senior goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert, has turned in four shutouts in 10 games this season.

The lock down defensive core of Erika Prazma, Hillary Blake, Danielle Flynn and Sam Balek has allowed a total of seven goals in nearly 1,000 minutes of play in 2010.

Also, the opponents have found the back of the net multiple times in just two games this season.

If the Panthers’ offensive attack can provide multiple goals in conference play, this team will definitely be competing for the conference title.

The Panther defense is easily one of the toughest backlines in the Ohio Valley Conference and it will certainly give the opponent’s offensive attack in fits throughout conference play.

2) The offensive attack will turn it around in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Panthers have only found the back of the net six times this season, but I have a feeling – come conference play – that all the scoring opportunities will translate into a significant amount of goals for the Panthers.

Perala’s squad has had an ample amount of scoring opportunities in non-conference play, but everything changes in conference play.

“Conference play is when it really starts,” said sophomore midfielder Kristin Germann.

Look for the struggling offensive attack to become a dominant force in the conference portion of their schedule.

3) I see a new found level of intensity and determination out of Perala’s Panther squad.

The Panthers have struggled to complete for a full 90 minutes of play this season, and that has unfortunately resulted in multiple losses. A handful of games have been decided in the last few seconds with overtime.

I look for this late game experience to propel the Panthers through conference action.

4) Last but not least, the majority of the OVC is playing sub-par soccer so far in 2010.

Entering the fifth week of the season the Panthers were sitting under the .500 mark, but found themselves in third place entering the last weekend of non-conference play.

Since then, the Panthers have dropped to fifth place in the OVC, but I see a lot of wins on the table for Perala’s squad in the Ohio Valley Conference.

With this in mind, expect Coach Perala’s Panther squad to be in contention to bring the OVC crown to Eastern.

Jordan Pottorff can be reached

at 581-7944 or jbpottorff@eiu.edu