The Eastern hockey club was swept over the weekend by Missouri, dropping the Panthers to 1-5 on the season.

The Tigers took Saturday’s game by a score of 6-3, then won again Sunday 8-2 in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Panthers have now lost five straight since their first win of the season over Bradley on Sept. 15.

The Panthers never held a lead in Saturday’s game, going down 3-0 at the end of the first period.

Junior Ryan Howard scored the Eastern’s first goal of the game in the second period. Freshman Brendan Terbrock scored the team’s second goal of the second period, putting the Panthers at a 4-2 deficit heading into the third.

The Tigers added three goals in the third period. Senior Andrew Maronich scored in the third, returning from a concussion against Southern Illinios-Edwardsville the previous week for the Panthers.

In the second game, the Panthers again found themselves down early, facing a 2-1-deficit heading into the second period. Freshman Andy Insalaco netted the team’s only goal of the period.

Another returning player for Eastern, senior Zach Yurchak, tied the game at two in the second period.

Despite holding the tie entering the third, the Panthers would not find the back of the net again, giving up six goals to the Tigers.

The Panthers head to Peoria on Sunday for a makeup game with Bradley.

The team was unable to play its originally scheduled game on Sept. 14 because of a malfunction with the rink at the Eastern’s home ice in Danville.

Senior Chris Gallagher said the problems with the ice have been resolved.

The Panthers played against Illinois at the David S. Palmer Arena on Sept. 20 and had no reported issues with the ice.

The makeup game against Bradley is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Owens Center in Peoria.

Bradley is currently 4-3 this season, coming off two losses against Wisconsin-Platteville.

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