It was a big day for players making their collegiate and team debuts as Eastern opened its season with a 3-0 win over the University of Chicago Maroons Thursday evening at Lakeside Field.

The game was scoreless for about an hour, and senior defender Trey Gora picked up an injury early in the second half. Freshman defender Sebastian Piatkiewicz got into the game for Gora and made an impact right away by blocking a shot which sparked the first goal of the game.

Graduate forward Sam Eccles found himself in space and picked out a pass to freshman forward Jackson Liley.

Liley made a run to the back post and scored to give Eastern the lead for the remainder of the game.

Liley’s goal came in his first collegiate appearance. He complimented his teammates after the game.

“When I saw [Eccles] making the run down the left-hand side, my whole goal was to make [myself] an option for him on the back post.”

About 10 minutes later, sophomore midfielder Kyle Kimberling got on the other end of another Eccles pass and rolled the ball beyond the goalkeeper to double Eastern’s lead.

Eastern was having trouble dealing with Chicago’s physicality in the first half.

Manager Josh Oakley said that the team should’ve been the aggressor but by halftime, the team was forced to adjust.

“We wanted to play a little bit more vertical in the second half and I think we did that,” Oakley said. “I also think that I got on the guys a little bit about physical challenges. (Chicago) was out physical-ing us, and it’s just unacceptable because the teams that we’re going to play throughout the season are going to be big, strong, and physical just like this group.”

The scoring was completed by a free kick goal from junior midfielder Casey Welage, who scored on his second attempt after his first freekick rattled the crossbar earlier in the game. Welage said that he wanted to copy the first free kick but get it a little lower and on target.

“I golf, and they call that a breakfast ball,” Welage said. “I feel like I got a breakfast ball there. On my second chance, I was able to capitalize.”

Although he did not record a goal, Eccles finished the game with two assists, on top of winning the free kick that Welage scored. Oakley praised Eccles’ ability to make dangerous passes as well as score goals.

“I love the fact that he’s making assists,” Oakley said. “He was our goal scorer the last couple of years. Now we have some guys in here, rookies, that we think are going to shoulder some of the load off of him, but it’s great to see that he’s drawing a crowd and he’s giving the ball to other people and they’re going to score the goals.”

Eastern will be back at Lakeside Field on Monday to face Detroit Mercy. Kickoff for that game is set for 5 p.m.

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.