The Eastern men’s soccer team faced Evansville and Green Bay at home over the weekend, forcing a 1-1 draw in Friday’s matchup and, despite blood being spilled, the Panthers fell 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.

After a 2-0 win against Cincinnati in Eastern’s first match of the season, the Panthers started hot against Evansville, securing a 1-0 first half lead on a goal by junior Christian Sosnowski in the 42nd minute.

The physicality of the matchup proved to be a deciding factor after the referees awarded Evansville junior Jesse Stafford-Lacey a penalty kick in the 74th minute that knotted up the game.

Despite being outshot by 6 in regulation, Eastern recorded 4 shots to Evansville’s 0 over the two 10-minute overtime periods, but neither team scored.

Sunday’s matchup against Green Bay featured less physical play than the Evansville game, but more close scoring opportunities for Eastern’s attack, despite the loss.

Eastern outshot Green Bay 8 to 5 in the contest, and although Green Bay controlled the ball for a majority of the game, Eastern appeared to find more solid scoring changes.

 “We moved the ball very well, and they gave us a chance to score, and we didn’t score,” head coach Kiki Lara said. 

The game remained scoreless into halftime, with both teams tied with 4 shots, but it was yet another penalty kick that opened up the match for Green Bay.

Junior Tomer Zloczower, who finished last season ranked second for Green Bay in goals, found the back of the net in the 59th minute for the Phoenix.

Lara was vocal on the sidelines about the call that allowed the penalty kick, but after the game he said, “We’re not worried about that.”

The intensity grew late after Green Bay sophomore goalkeeper Jamison Yoder left the field with blood on his face after attempting to secure the ball late.

After deliberation between the coaches and officials and some medical assistance to Yoder, a live ball drop in the box went Green Bay’s way to quash Eastern’s comeback hopes.

On the other side of the field, sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Burke faced plenty of pressure over the course of the weekend, and Lara said he was impressed with the keeper’s play.

“Burke’s been matured,” Lara said. “Burke’s been solid, and he’s been trustworthy back there.”

Eastern will face Bradley Friday at 7 p.m. as part of the Bradley Invite, and Lara said he simply wants to continue building within the process.

“We just got to keep knocking on the stone, and doing things right,” Lara said. “We’ve gotten better each game we’ve played, each half, and we just got to continue that growth aspect of our program.”

Oscar Rzodkiewicz can be reached at 581-2812 or orrzodkiewicz@eiu.edu