Eastern battled back and forth but lost to the Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Field.
Despite the extreme temperatures, with it being 90 degrees just before kickoff, there were still periods of the game with end-to-end action.
Both teams had quality chances that they couldn’t capitalize on until the 80th minute, when Fort Wayne freshman midfielder Haily Hoskins pounced on a loose ball traveling across the face of the goal and tapped it in to put the Mastodons ahead for good.
Manager Dirk Bennett was happy with the performance despite the loss, and he complimented the team’s willingness to grind throughout the game.
“I hope our girls had their heads up because they showed a lot of good stuff today,” Bennett said.
Bennett’s message was passed down to the players, who talked together for a brief few minutes following the game.
“I’m really proud of everyone,” captain and senior midfielder Avery Richardson said. “I think it was a hot game, I think that there were tired legs from Thursday’s game, and I think this is a team we have to battle against so I’m proud of the performance regardless of the score.”
Eastern had trouble breaking down Purdue Fort Wayne’s defense and had no answer for Mastodon true freshman goalkeeper Sam Christie, who made eight saves en route to keeping a clean sheet in her first collegiate game.
Bennett said the Panther’s attacking ability still needs a little work, but that it will be a season-long process.
“I think that when the game has such a back-and-forth nature to it, we get a little excited,” Bennett said. “If they want to make it into a track meet sometimes, we might fall victim to that as well. We would like to really set up a bit more of like a half-court offense if you will.”
There was an added crowd presence thanks to the Panther Marching Band, who played throughout the game at breaks and at random times throughout play.
Bennett spoke on the uniqueness of having the band at a home game.
“It just makes a cool environment,” Bennett said. “I really appreciate them coming out and playing for us. Sometimes in away matches you have this kind of environment, NCAA tournament you have this environment, so again it’s a way for us to train our focus.”
Some of the players from the Panthers thought the addition of the Panther Marching Band was a unique touch.
“We are so thankful that the band was able to come out today,” Richardson said. “I think they were an awesome energy to have on our sidelines and I couldn’t ask for more from EIU.”
Eastern falls to 1-2-1 on the season with the loss. They will wrap up the homestand with a game on Thursday against Illinois Springfield. Kickoff for that game is slated for 2 p.m.
Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.
