The Panthers were 5-2-1 two weeks ago, before losing the four matches, three of which were on the road, a place where Eastern has struggled this season, resulting in a 1-4-1 away record.

The Panthers have two home matches this weekend against Eastern Kentucky Friday and Morehead State Sunday.

Eastern’s offense has been blanked over the stretch of those four matches, something the team had experienced only once before against Milwaukee on Aug. 27.

“We have had trouble keeping our possession in the final third,” junior defensive midfielder Kate Olson said.

With everything seemingly going against Eastern recently, the team will get a break and will play two home matches this weekend, where the team has thrived (4-2 at home).

Three of the four losses were to conference opponents, so while Eastern will get a break from the road matches, they will not get a break from the pressure of conference play.

But Olson said this weekend is an opportunity to turn the season around.

“It’s still earlier in conference play so getting our first win at home is crucial for us to be able to change our momentum into the upcoming games,” she said.

Eastern is currently tied for last in the OVC with Jacksonville State, both 0-3 in OVC play.

Eastern Kentucky will be the highest-ranked OVC team Eastern has played so far, sitting in second place in the conference with an undefeated (2-0-2) conference record.

The Colonels are 5-3-3 on the season, with a 3-2-1 away record. Eastern will have to contain the Colonels’ two leading scorers, senior forwards Jordan Foster and Emmi Carroll, who both have four goals this season.

The Morehead State Eagles are 2-7-1 overall with a 1-3 away record.  Morehead State beat OVC opponent Tennessee-Martin and tied Southeast Missouri, giving the Eagles a 1-2-1 conference record, which puts them in ninth place in the OVC.

Easter also holds the series record over Morehead, with a 12-8-3 series record.  This is the 24th meeting between the two teams.

The Panthers’ defense will be taking a hit. Olson has a shoulder subluxation and will not play this weekend and senior defender Carrie Caplin will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Fellow defender, junior Kayla Stolfa, sprained her ankle but will play, and freshman defender Eva Munoz will miss the weekend with a concussion.

Eastern’s match Friday will start at 3 p.m., and Sunday’s match is set for 1 p.m.

Dillan Schorfheide can be reached at 581-2812 or dtschorfheide@eiu.edu