INDIANAPOLIS – Eastern Illinois men's soccer's month-long struggles continued Tuesday, as Butler scored following a first-half free kick and rode the game's only goal to a 1-0 victory over the Panthers.

With the loss, EIU (5-7-3) saw its winless streak reach seven games. Coincidentally, the team's current 0-5-2 stretch began with a 1-0 loss in Indianapolis at Butler's intracity rival, IUPUI. After being shutout just once in their first eight games, the Panthers have been blanked in four of their seven matches this month.

 

Butler (11-2-2), meanwhile, has now won four straight. The Bulldogs lead the Horizon League thanks in part to a similar 1-0 home victory over nationally-ranked Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 11.

The Bulldogs scored the game's lone goal in the final seconds of the 25th minute when David Girratana tapped in a rebound for his first goal of the season. Boris Gatzky blasted a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box off the inside of the post. The rebound then caromed off EIU goalkeeper Mark Essary and Giarratana finished the play.

Essary and Mark Hansen split time in net, making a combined five saves. Essary started for the third time in the last four games, but was replaced by Hansen at halftime.

 

The Panthers limited Butler to just one corner kick opportunity, but managed just three corners and three shots on goal of their own.

 

“We actually played very well and I was pretty happy overall,” EIU head coach Adam Howarth said. “On their goal, we thought [Giarratana] was offside when the ball was played in. In the second half we were down there close, we just couldn't get it in. But the heart and effort were there and if we put that same effort together Saturday (vs. Evansville), we should be in good shape at home.

 

“The goalkeeper change was planned. I wanted to give them both some time and then make a decision for this weekend. Both played fairly well. Essary made a couple good saves. Hansen didn't have to face as much pressure in the second half.”

 

Howarth said EIU's best scoring chances came from Brad Peters and Mike Lewis. In the 40th minute, Peters nearly hit the crossbar with a rising blast after a long throw-in from Jonathan Hinds and flick by Chris Pearson.

 

Later in the 63rd minute, Lewis got off a shot from about 25 yards out that was headed for the top corner of the goal, but Butler goalkeeper Fabian Knopfler made a quality save.

 

The Panthers played without Adam Gartner for the first time since October 2005. The senior was sidelined by a yellow card accumulation suspension, ending his consecutive games started streak at 57. Hinds played the entire game in his place. Ryan Child, Darby Kehoe, Alex Harrison, Patrick Mabeya, Pearson and Peters also went the distance among the EIU field players.

Saturday's Missouri Valley Conference game with Evansville is slated for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Lakeside Field.