After a 1-0 loss to Jacksonville State on Friday, the Eastern women’s soccer team escaped with a 3-2 overtime win on Sunday over Tennessee Tech, ending the team’s five-game losing streak.

The Panthers entered the weekend at 0-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference following a loss to in-state rival Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

The team would travel to Jacksonville, Ala., on Friday to take on the OVC-leading Jacksonville State Gamecocks, where it would fall 1-0, giving up a goal in the 15th minute.

Jacksonville State’s Nathalee Lariviere would add her first goal of the season from 30 yards out. Jackie Rush and Austen Stoelting were credited with assists.

Despite the loss, the Panthers would out-shoot the Gamecocks 17-14. The loss was Eastern’s fifth straight with each loss coming via the shutout.

Sunday’s match in Cookeville, Tenn., against Tennessee Tech would see a scoreless first half, with all five goals coming in the second half.

Tennessee Tech’s Ellie Iaciofano would score the team’s first two goals, giving the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead. Iaciofano scored in the 48th minute off an assist from Andrea Meloff, and again in the 68th minute on an unassisted goal.

The Panthers would respond in the 71st minute when freshman midfielder Bianca Navejas added her first goal of her career and the first Eastern goal since Sept. 7.

Then, in the 87th minute, senior Kristin Germann would add to her team-leading fourth goal of the season, tying the game in the process. The goal was assisted by senior Ashley Streid.

The Panthers would head into overtime for the fourth time this season where freshman Hannah Miller would score her first goal of the season on an unassisted goal that deflected off a Tennessee Tech defender to give the Panthers the win.

With the win, the Panthers snap their five-match losing streak, bringing their overall record to 3-9 on the season. Eastern is 1-2 in the OVC.

The Panthers will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, taking on Tennessee-Martin at Lakeside Field, followed by a 1 p.m. match Oct. 7 against Southeast Missouri, also at Lakeside Field.

Tennessee-Martin enters the game with an overall record of 5-4-3, posting a 2-0-1 record in conference play.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-2812 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.