Eastern’s men’s soccer team ranks second in the Summit League with 142 shots this season.

The only team ahead of the Panthers is Western Illinois with 149.

Oakland ranks third with 127, while Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis ranks last, getting off only 78 shots this season.

The Panthers are also in the top three in points, assists and corner kicks. They rank in the bottom half in the conference in goals allowed and saves.

After a 3-0 loss to Western Illinois, the Panthers will be getting back Graham Lynch, a senior defenseman and co-captain.

Lynch served a one-game suspension after being issued a red card against IUPUI. This season Lynch has scored one goal and made one assist.

Touloute and Ryan win Summit League Player of the Week awards

The best offensive player this week in the Summit League is Max Touloute, a senior forward from Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

This is the third tine Touloute has won the award. He connected on the game-winning goal against Oral Roberts while adding three assists as well.

Touloute leads the Summit League with nine goals and 23 points this season.

The best defensive player this week was Andy Ryan, a senior goalkeeper from Western Illinois.

Ryan recorded two shutouts, with the first against Eastern and the second against Valparaiso. In the game against Valparaiso, he made 11 saves.

Around the Summit League

IPFW beat Central Arkansas 1-0 improving its record to 5-6-1 this season.

The game was scoreless until the 80th minute when Colin Helmrich played a corner kick and found Myles Stanley for his first career goal.

Western Illinois was able to shutout Valparaiso 1-0, winning its third straight match. The Leathernecks record now stands at 6-4-1 this season.

Valparaiso took 25 shots, but it was unable to find the back of the net. Of the Crusaders 25 shots, 11 were on goal, all of which were stopped by Western goalkeeper Andy Ryan. Ryan recorded his fifth shutout this season.

Oral Roberts defeated Nebraska-Omaha convincingly, 4-0. With the win the Golden Eagles improve to 3-6 this season and Nebraska-Omaha falls to 3-6 as well.

Oral Roberts finished the first half with a 2-0 lead and it was able to add to more goals with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or rdmortell@eiu.edu.