Eastern’s hopes of qualifying for the OVC Tournament are still alive.  

The Panthers won 2-1 away from home against Western Illinois last Sunday in a must-win game. Had Eastern lost that game, they would’ve been eliminated from postseason contention.  

That win is the first time Eastern beat Western Illinois away from home since 2006, when the Panthers won 1-0 in overtime. Going into Sunday’s game, Western Illinois was a perfect 5-0 at home this season and hadn’t conceded a goal at home all season.  

“[Macomb, Illinois] is such a difficult place to play,” head coach Josh Oakley said.  

Western Illinois’ soccer field is open, and not protected by swirling winds, which Oakley said plays a factor into the tough environment.  

The Panthers were coming off a long road trip to Lynchburg, Virginia. Eastern had to play Liberty on Thursday, October 17, a game that they lost 2-0. Eastern had to face the Leathernecks after a 14 hour bus ride to Liberty and a 12 hour ride back, and then a six hour ride to Macomb a day later. 

Eastern went behind early against the Leathernecks, before freshmen forwards Adam Boykin and Sebastian Khoury scored their first collegiate goals 12 mins apart from each other in the first half. Both goals were assisted by fellow freshman forward Jackson Liley.  

“It’s amazing, and I’m really proud of the guys after 30-35 hours on the bus for the weekend, to go there and to let in an early goal again but then to come back and get two [goals] and get a result which we totally deserved,” Oakley said. “I think it was a big lift for the guys.” 

Eastern still sits in last place, but only three points behind Western Illinois for the last spot in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. 

Between the two teams is Eastern’s next opponent. The Panthers open a three-game homestand to finish the regular season, starting with Sothern Indiana on Saturday.  

Last season, Eastern won twice against the Screaming Eagles, including a 1-0 win at Lakeside Field to clinch a spot in the first ever OVC men’s soccer tournament.  

Saturday’s game will be exactly one year since that game, and this upcoming game will have similar postseason implications. The winner, if there is one, would move into the last spot in the tournament with two games to go as long as Western Illinois is unable to pull off the upset against the defending champion, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.  

The Panthers already played Southern Indiana this season, losing 2-1 away from home. That game marks the last time Southern Indiana scored a goal. The Screaming Eagles have gone 553 minutes without scoring.  

“I know that [Southern Indiana] will show up really juiced up,” Oakley said. “They will certainly have a lot of momentum and belief because on that day in September, they outplayed us and deserved to win.” 

Oakley said playing a team a second time is an advantage because it gives Eastern a chance to plan better for the opponent. He says Saturday’s game is going to be a tactical battle between two teams that don’t often score goals.  

“It may not be the prettiest level of soccer,” Oakley said. “But the game is going to present itself in a way that is entertaining.” 

Saturday’s game at Lakeside Field is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff.  

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