The Eastern women’s soccer team currently stands with a record of 5-8-2 overall this year, while also posting a record of 4-2-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Senior midfielder/forward Jessica Blake was named Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week following last weekend’s performances. The weekend held two matches, both against OVC foes Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State.

Blake supplied the game-winning goal in the Panthers’ 2-0 victory against Morehead State. Last Sunday’s goal was not only Blake’s first goal of the season, but also her second goal in her career as a Panther.

Blake started in both matches over the weekend, totaling 153 minutes between the two.

Blake played 77 minutes in the match against Eastern Kentucky, while playing one minute less, 76, in the match against Morehead State.

In the two games, Blake had a combined total of two shots on-goal. Blake has a total of nine shots so far this season, four of those shots have been on-goal. Blake’s game-winning goal marks as one of five for the Panthers so far this season.

Blake has started each of the Panthers’ 15 matches so far this season, totaling 1,133 minutes, more than any other player on the team. She has played just one more minute than junior forward Kristin Germann.

Around the OVC

The OVC Defensive Player of the Week award was split between two players this week. Senior Devon Thomas of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and junior Leigh Heffner of Tennessee Tech split the award after both of their performances this past weekend.

Thomas helped lead the Cougars to a pair of wins over the weekend, helping the team reach its first 2-0 OVC weekend. The Cougars beat both Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.

Heffner played the entire length of both matches, while also recording her first career goal, which was a game-winner.

The OVC Goalkeeper of the Week was junior Katelyn Geddings of Jacksonville State. Geddings allowed just one goal, while also making a total of 22 saves in two matches against OVC foes Murray State and Austin Peay. She recorded a career high 12 stops against Austin Peay.

Eastern goalkeeper red-shirt sophomore Jessica Taldone was also nominated for the honor.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7942 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.