Game Notes | Live Stats

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's soccer plays the first of its three Saturday afternoon home games this weekend when first-time opponent Central Arkansas visits Lakeside Field.

 

Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. In part two of the senior day series at home this season, Mark Hansen and Patrick Mabeya will be highlighted for their contributions to Panther soccer.

 

Fellow senior Adam Gartner, meanwhile, is expected to start his 50th consecutive match Saturday. He has been in the starting 11 in every EIU game dating back to November 2005.

 

In their last home game, the Panthers (3-2-1) scored three goals in an Aug. 31 victory against a UMKC that won at EIU's Missouri Valley Conference rival Creighton Saturday. The lone Saturday afternoon game at Lakeside Field a year ago featured undoubtedly the best atmosphere of the season.

 

Eastern played three first-time foes last year, posting a 2-0-1 record against Lipscomb (won), Kentucky (won) and UAB (tied).

 

Central Arkansas (2-5) is based in Conway and competes in the Southland Conference. However, the men's soccer program is independent because the Southland does not sponsor the men's game.

 

UCA head coach Chad Flanders earned a master's degree in physical education from EIU in 1996 after spending his undergrad years at Illinois State, where he also played varsity soccer prior to ISU discontinuing its program. He later spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Bradley.

 

The Bears and Panthers are scheduled to take on a number of common opponents this season. Central Arkansas has already lost to Evansville (3-0) and is also slated to play Oral Roberts, Missouri State, UMKC, Western Illinois and Bradley.

 

Each of the Bears' last three games has been decided in overtime. They opened the stretch with a victory against Belmont, but lost to Bowling Green and Centenary. The first two games were part of a four-team tournament in Conway, which EIU is scheduled to participate in next season.

Following this Saturday's game, the Panthers play seven of their next eight games on the road. Eastern next plays at Lakeside Field Monday, Oct. 13 against Oral Roberts before opening Valley play two days later against Bradley in Peoria.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID