Live Stats

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's soccer will look to snap a six-game winless streak when the Panthers take to the pitch for the fourth time in a nine-day stretch Tuesday afternoon for a 3 p.m. game at Horizon League-leading Butler.

 

The contest represents EIU's first and only break from Missouri Valley Conference play this season. The Panthers (5-6-3 overall) have compiled a 5-4-3 record against non-conference opponents, but are winless (0-2-2) in October. Opening Valley play 0-2 has dropped EIU's overall record this month to 0-4-2. The six-game winless streak is the program's longest since 2003.

 

The Panthers have compiled a 1-2 regular-season record in the state of Indiana this season, but have lost in each of their previous two trips to Indianapolis. The current winless stretch began with a 1-0 defeat at IUPUI on the first of the month, and EIU also dropped an exhibition match at the University of Indianapolis back in August.

 

Butler (10-2-2) won its 10th game of the season Saturday at common opponent Wright State. The Bulldogs have also beaten IUPUI, IPFW and Valparaiso and lost at Evansville. Since losing at UE, however, Butler has compiled a 7-1-2 record.

 

Evansville, meanwhile, visits Charleston Saturday for meeting of a pair of 0-2 MVC teams.

 

Eastern and Butler have not met since the season opener of the 2004 campaign, which EIU won in 1-0 fashion at Lakeside Field. The Panthers also claimed a 3-1 victory a year earlier in Indianapolis. The Bulldogs won the only other meeting in 1995.

 

Butler has scored 28 times in its 14 games to lead the Horizon League in goals per game. The Bulldogs are also third in the Horizon with a 0.83 goals against average, winning eight of their 10 games in shutout fashion. Eastern, meanwhile, shares the MVC league lead with 25 goals, but is last among the six conference teams with a 1.58 GAA.

 

Brad Peters continues to lead the league with nine goals and 20 points. The Hermann Trophy candidate will have his fourth game-day opportunity to record his 10th goal and become EIU's first player in the MVC era (1996-present) to post three double-figure goal seasons.

 

Defensively, the Panthers will be without Adam Gartner, who was issued his fifth yellow card of the season Saturday at Drake and will have to sit out. Unfortunately, the yellow card suspension will end his team-long starting streak at 57 games. Peters' 41 consecutive starts after Tuesday's game will now be tops on the squad.

With Evansville hosting the MVC Tournament next month, the Panthers are guaranteed of playing at least one more game in the Hoosier state following Tuesday's contest in the state capital.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID