CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.- Eastern’s women’s soccer team lost 2-1 to the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in its first round match in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Cape Giradeau, Mo., Thursday afternoon.

It was cold and dreary at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau at the match’s opening whistle. Eastern controlled the attack throughout the match’s beginning before notching the first tally in the 39th minute on a header by senior defender Sam Balek off of a corner kick by senior midfielder Ashley Eck. The goal counted as the only first-half tally as the Panthers went into halftime leading 1-0.

Tennessee-Martin came out in the second half looking like a different team. They rallied to score a pair of goals in the 53rd and 80th minutes to earn the win and end the Panthers’ season.

The Panthers came out of halftime looking like a completely different team, and Balek said that was due to Tennessee-Martin adjusting their attack strategy going into the second half.

Head coach Summer Perala said she was disappointed that the Panthers were unable to extend their season and that the seniors especially had to go out in the first round.

“Because we couldn’t keep the ball, we had a hard time building any sort of attack,” said Perala of the second half. “We were just in panic mode form that pressure. I feel bad for our seniors, because they put a lot of heart into the first half, but for us not to be able to complete the game and give them the next round is kind of disappointing.”

Balek’s first-half goal was the first of her Panther career, and it came in what would end up being her final match of her collegiate career.

“If (Tennessee-Martin) had come out and stayed in a 4-2-3 we would have, for sure, been able to come out strong and keep the lead,” Balek said.

“They were able to change things up, keep the pressure on us, and get two goals. It was kind of awesome (to score) actually, but it’s a good time to get a goal, before the season’s over.” Balek said she and the rest of the seniors worked hard for their four years.

“It was a good four years. It stinks that we had to go out this way, but at least we came out for 45 minutes and played,” said Balek. “It would have been nice to put a whole game together and end on a good note.”

Brad Kupiec can be reached at 581-7942 or bmkupiec@eiu.edu.