Last weekend, the Eastern women’s soccer team lost both games, snapping a three-game win streak and pushing them back to one game over .500 with a 5-4-1 record.

The Panthers have had to make changes to their lineup over the past couple weeks due to key players getting injured.  With that being said, adjusting to their injuries by creating an efficient lineup has been challenging the past couple weeks.

“We had a lot of momentum after our three-game win streak,” senior Ali Carlson said. “But this past weekend we had a few very unfortunate injuries to some key players.”

So far this season, there have been a few injuries in the Panthers’ backline as well as their midfield.  The team is currently waiting to see if those players will be able to compete this weekend against Belmont and Austin Peay this Sunday.

Injuries are prone to throw off any team’s momentum and rhythm abruptly, especially after a three-game win streak coming to a halt.  During practices this week, finding a lineup that works efficiently has been a main goal for the Panthers.

“I would say that some of the main things that we are working on are adapting our lineup to deal with some injuries that we’ve had within the team,” senior Madi Fisher said.

Fisher also said in practice, the Panthers are working on different ways of getting to the goal.  So far this season, the Panthers have already eclipsed their point total from last year and this past weekend was the first time the Panthers have been held scoreless.

The Panthers look to bounce back on Friday in an OVC matchup against the 5-3-1 Belmont Bruins.

“Belmont played a 3-5-2 so we have been shadowing that in practice and focusing on finding where we can expose them on Friday,” Carlson said.

The 3-5-2 means on the field, there are three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.  Compared to the Panthers’ strategy, it is slightly different since this whole year they have been using a 4-3-3: four defends, four midfielders, and three forwards.

Nevertheless, with a winning record this semester, the Panthers have found a balance between adjusting to an opponent’s style of play and staying loyal to their own tactics.

“This year we have a solid foundation and a team who is willing to keep to that,” Carlson said.

By the end of the fall season, what is most important to the Panthers is succees and advancing in OVC play. Conference play has just begun and as a team, the Panthers are only 0-1 with their loss coming last weekend against SIUE.

This year, the Panthers believe they will be able to content in the OVC despite their ups and downs.

“I would say that even though we have experienced some bumps in the road, we are still confident that we can get ourselves to the OVC tournament,” Fisher said.

Adam Shay can be reached at 581-2812 or acshay@eiu.edu