Last week it was senior Meagan Radloff who had three goals in two matches for the Eastern women’s soccer team, but this week it was senior Madison Carter supplying the offense.

Carter scored twice on Saturday against Tennessee Tech, with rain postponing the match originally scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday. The match was rescheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday.

Carter, who connected with Hannah Miller last weekend on an assist for Miller’s third goal of the season, was this time on the receiving end. Miller found Carter twice on Saturday for two goals in the 16th and 32nd minute, respectively. Senior Allie Lakie was also credited with an assist on Carter’s second goal.

Carter now has four goals this season. The senior for Lawrenceburg, Ky., has one assist this year. She had a season-high six shots against Tennessee Tech and two against Jacksonville State.

Carter’s third goal of the weekend came in 38th minute of Sunday’s match. Originally scheduled for 1 p.m., the match was pushed back to 3 p.m., given that the Panthers had just played the day before. Red-shirt senior Lauren Hoppensteadt was credited with the assist in Carter’s goal against Jacksonville State.

Panthers give up second hat trick of season 

For the second time this season, the Eastern women’s soccer team gave up a hat trick.

Jacksonville State’s Jackie Rush scored three goals in the first half of Sunday’s match to become the first player since 2007 to record a hat trick for the Gamecocks. Rush scored in the 10th, 18th and 32nd minute. Two of the three goals were unassisted.

Eastern also gave up three goals to IUPUI’s Krissy Kirkhoff during non-conference play. Kirkhoff scored in the 48th, 57th and 82nd minute. The Panthers lost 3-2 to the Jaguars.

Panthers prepare for top OVC teams

Eastern’s final two home matches of the season will be against two of the Ohio Valley Conference’s best teams. The Panthers take on Murray State at 3 p.m. Friday and Tennessee-Martin at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Murray State is coming off a 2-0 win over Eastern Kentucky on Sunday and is currently tied for first place in the conference with 12 points.

Tennessee-Martin currently has 10 points in the OVC, sitting in fourth place. The top six teams make the post-season tournament. Eastern currently has four points, tied with Eastern Kentucky and currently on the outside looking in, but still has a shot at making the tournament if it wins out the rest of its schedule.

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