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Picinich Podcast
CONWAY, Ark. – Mike Picinich headed in an Alex Harrison corner kick with two seconds remaining in regulation to lift Eastern Illinois men's soccer to a 1-0 victory at Central Arkansas Friday afternoon.
Picinich scored his first goal as a Panther following EIU's seventh corner kick of the day. Harrison earned his team-leading 12th career assist by putting the corner kick into play.
“Picinich rose up like a young salmon and headed it in,” EIU head coach
Adam Howarth said. “He jumped higher than I've ever seen him jump. But to be fair, there were two or three of our guys right there. It was a great service by Alex.
“We played well again overall and created some chances. There were times where we can still do better, but we kept a clean sheet (shutout) on the road and that's always important. We had a couple productive scrambles in the [18-yard] box and got behind them after some restarts. And a win is a win, whether its 1-0 or 3-0.”
The goal and win were EIU's first of the year after posting an 0-2-1 record in the season's opening week despite having an edge in shots, shots on goal and corners. The victory also ended a 14-game winless streak dating back to Oct. 1 of last year.
Brad Earl was the last Panther to score a game-impacting goal in the final minute of regulation, helping EIU salvage a draw against Drake in 2005 at Lakeside Field. However, Earl also scored the game-winner in the 2007 victory at Kentucky with 35 seconds remaining in overtime.
Both teams were credited with only two shots on goal. Howarth said
Jerry Maddi and
Kyle Bullock both had excellent chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the game. But the UCA goalkeeper made a nice play to deny the opportunities.
Eastern goalkeeper
Sean Molony was credited with one save en route to posting his second shutout of the season. A team save in the 63rd minute stopped UCA's other shot on goal. The Panthers did not give up a shot on goal in the first half.
Austin Andrekus,
Jeff Kupiec and
Kyle Zumski went the distance among the EIU field players. Andrekus made his first career start in place on an injured
Chris Pearson.
Maddi left the field for the first time this season after being cautioned with a yellow card in the 43rd minute. He started the second half and finished out the game.
Jonathan Hinds logged 29 minutes off the bench, tops among the eight EIU reserves that saw action.
The Panthers return to action Friday (Sept. 18) when they open play at Evansville's four-team tournament with a 5 p.m. game against first-time opponent Stony Brook.|
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Ben Turner, Asst. SID
