Eastern junior outside wing Will Butler beat IUPUI freshman right back Cole Walker in the 77th minute with the Panthers trailing 1-0.

But when Butler got around Walker and turned a cross toward the goal, his effort found the inside of red-shirt sophomore Garet Christianson’s foot.

The forward slotted the ball past the IUPUI goalkeeper to bring the Panther’s even at one with the Jaguars as the clock stuck 13:31 in regulation.

Eastern’s first match of Summit League play ended in a 1-1 draw after two periods of extra time.

“The rest of the year has been really difficult for me, and usually I’m able to step up and help the rest of us out, but for some reason, I couldn’t get it right,” Butler said. “So, for the game this week, I met with Coach Howarth and he took a whole bunch of extra time to show me the right spots to be.”

Despite feeling like he has not been able to step up, Butler is tied for the lead in the assists, having racked up four this season.

“We talked to (Butler) a little bit at half time about trying to get beyond Garet (Christianson) and get him some support and we did that,” coach Adam Howarth said.

Butler’s improved work-rate in the second half carried over into both extra time periods, Howarth said. Butler was able to continue to deliver speed and endurance even in the game’s dying moments.

“Whenever we come off the field and the game stops, it is great to play on this team because there is so many people that support you and bring you up,” Butler said.

Butler said the players on the bench who play his position give him encouragement whenever play is stopped and that motivates him to keep working.

“I don’t think it is fair to them if I’m not doing my best,” Butler said.

Eastern had to throw together a makeshift defense for most of Sunday’s match. When sophomore Conor Bartuch picked up a yellow card for a hard tackle, the right back found himself out for the majority of the game.

Sophomores Kyle Callender and Nick Smith filled the spot. Smith is not a true defender and has spent most of his time in the midfield this season.

Smith had to exit the match in the second half after taking a blow to the nose on a corner kick, leaving Callender to finish out the match.

“We lost a couple of backs there with (Bartuch) getting that yellow card in the first half with a hard tackle so we had to be really careful with him,” Howarth said.

Even though it struggled to keep personnel in the match Sunday, Eastern still managed to see the game out and hold onto the draw.

In the Panther’s four matches leading up to the contest with IUPUI, they gave up leads and potential draws in each game.

“I think the commitment was good,” Howarth said. “We got after them a little bit at half time. The second half performance was better.”

After spending four straight matches on the bench, sophomore goalkeeper Garrett Creasor was back in goal for the Panthers. He conceded only once, the lowest goal total Eastern has allowed this year.

The team has the week off before it travels to Macomb to play Western Illinois Saturday in the second match of Summit League play.

Michael Spencer can be reached at 581-2812 or tmspencer2@eiu.edu.