For the second straight match, the Eastern women’s soccer team found itself ahead 1-0, again off a goal from red-shirt junior Chris Reed off an assist from junior Meagan Radloff.

But again, for the second straight match, the Panthers lost the lead in the second half, falling 4-1 to Missouri-Kansas City on Friday at Lakeside Field. So for Eastern head coach Jason Cherry and the Panthers, it’s back to the drawing board.

“I just have to go back home and think about what can I do make this team better,” Cherry said. “I care a lot about them and I want them to succeed. Just gonna have to go back to the chalkboard and see what I can do to get the best out of them.”

The Panthers got on the board in the 23rd minute when Radloff’s shot deflected off the crossbar and Reed was there to head it in for the 1-0 lead.

“Just another followed shot,” Reed said. “Got something good going on with Meagan, I guess.”

The goal is Reed’s second of the season, as well as Radloff’s second assist. Radloff had a team-high three shots on goal against the Kangaroos.

Missouri-Kansas City responded in the 28th minute with a goal from Sarah Todd off a free kick that got past red-shirt sophomore Kylie Morgan. Friday was Morgan’s first start of the season.

After heading into halftime tied 1-1, Missouri-Kansas City scored three times in the second half to secure the win.

Missouri-Kansas City’s Alyssa Elver scored in the 51st minute on an assist from Ellie Chadick. Chadick scored a goal of her own shortly after, getting the assist from Olivia Hodison in the 55th minute.

The Kangaroo’s fourth goal came from Kara Priest in the 63rd minute.

Cherry said he was impressed with the way Morgan played, despite the loss.

“I thought she did fantastic,” he said. “I think she played well enough to win the game, we just let her down as a whole, as a team today.”

Freshman Gabby McLaurin suffered a right ankle injury during the pre-match warm ups and will miss Sunday’s match against IUPUI, Cherry said. Her status will be reevaluated next week.

The Panthers take on IUPUI at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Field.

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