Junior Meagan Radloff had a pair of late game-winning goals over the weekend, propelling the Eastern women’s soccer team to 1-0 victories over Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky, respectively, at Lakeside Field on Friday and Sunday.

The Panthers are now 4-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, the team’s best start since 2000.

Eastern and Morehead State were scoreless heading into the second half during Friday’s game at Lakeside Field. Radloff found herself in the right place at the right time in the 82nd minute for what would be the game-winner.

“Pressuring the defense, the ball happened to deflect into the perfect spot,” Radloff said. “Chipping it over the goalie, it was like going in slow motion over the goalie. It was a little nerve wracking, but that’s OK.”

Radloff was able to find the back of the net again on Sunday against Eastern Kentucky in the 87th minute to push the Panthers over the Colonels.

After the Eastern Kentucky goalkeeper deflected the ball, Radloff was there for the score.

“I just saw it coming out at the top of the 18 and shot it, hoping for the best,” she said.

The Panthers were playing with an advantage after Colonels goalkeeper Erik Wolfer was given a red card for a foul on Eastern’s Chris Reed in the 66th minute.

“(The ball) got through, and I was running through the defenders and it was me and the goalie, we were both going out for it,” Reed said. “She wanted to stop the ball and I wanted to kick the ball in the net, so I wouldn’t take any hard feeling or anything. It hurt, but she was doing what she had to do for her team.”

Wolfer was ejected and Samantha Melton was brought in to replace her. Eastern coach Jason Cherry said it was the right call.

“(Wolfer) was the last defender and it was a 1-v-1 situation and she came out on the ball feet first, so it was a red card and a good call by the official,” he said.

Eastern goalkeeper Cortney Jerzy recorded her second and third shutouts of the season over the weekend.

“I can’t say enough about Cortney Jerzy, just jumping in there and doing everything she can to keep a clean sheet,” Cherry said. “I think collectively, the team is playing better defensively.”

Red-shirt freshman goalkeeper Kylie Morgan is still out with a hand injury and has not played since the team’s 3-0 loss to Drake on Sept. 20.

Cherry said starting the OVC schedule off with four wins is huge for the team.

“To win all four first conference games is huge for us,” he said. “We’re doing our job; we won three at home and one on the road; we stole one, so that was really nice.”

The Panthers will try and steal two more on the road when they travel to face Austin Peay at 7 p.m. Friday in Clarksville, Tenn., followed by a 1 p.m. match Sunday against Murray State on the road.

Austin Peay is 3-0-1 in conference, following two wins over Tennessee Tech and Belmont over the weekend. The Governors are the only other unbeaten team in the OVC other than the Panthers.

Murray State is 1-3 in the OVC, picking up its first win over Tennessee Tech on Sunday

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