Friday's game against Stony Brook (1-4-1) is slated for a 5 p.m. kickoff. The IUPUI (1-3-1) game on Sunday is set to begin at noon. Both games will be played at McCutchan Stadium on Evansville's campus.
Jeff Kupiec is the only current Panther with a goal at McCutchan, accounting for a game-tying score late in the first half of a 4-1 loss to the Purple Aces in 2007.
The Panthers (1-2-1) return to southwest Indiana Oct. 7 for a Missouri Valley Conference game against Evansville, which plays IUPUI Friday and Stony Brook Sunday this weekend.
Eastern has played 15 times in Evansville since the EIU-UE series began in 1978. However, last year's MVC Tournament game against Missouri State was believed to be the Panthers' first neutral-site game in southwest Indiana.
Eastern was a 1-0 winner at Central Arkansas in its last game.
Mike Picinich's goal in the final seconds lifted EIU to its first victory of the season and ended the program's 14-game winless streak, which began with a 1-0 loss at IUPUI on Oct. 1 of last season. Picinich's first collegiate goal also accounted for EIU's first score of the season, making him only the fourth player in the team's MVC era (1996-present) whose first career goal doubled as the first of the year.
Stony Brook competes in the America East Conference and is EIU's second first-time opponent of the season. The Panthers played Mercer to a scoreless draw Sept. 4 in Peoria. Friday's game will be EIU's first against an America East opponent.
After getting shutout in its season opener against Hofstra, Stony Brook has scored in each of its last five games. The Seawolves played fourth-ranked St. John's to a 1-1 draw Sept. 11, but have given up five goals in their losses to Seton Hall (3-2) and Long Island (2-1 in overtime) since.
Goalkeepers Stefan Manz (three goals against in 295 minutes) and Anthony Rogic (eight goals against in 270 minutes) have split time so far this season, with both starting three games.
IUPUI took a 3-2-1 lead in the all-time series with EIU with last year's victory in Indianapolis. Eastern was a 2-0 winner against the Jaguars in 2006 and 2007.
Alex Harrison scored the Panthers' second goal in the 2007 victory, which was the home opener at Lakeside Field. Sunday's game will mark the first time the two teams have squared off at a neutral site.
IUPUI opened its season with an overtime victory against Detroit, but has not enjoyed a lead in any of its four games since. Sunday, the Jaguars lost in overtime on a penalty kick score at common opponent Valparaiso.
IUPUI has scored five of its six goals this season in the second half. Five of the nine goals the Jaguars have surrendered were scored in the first half.
After this weekend's action, EIU closes out the month of September with home games against IUPUI's Summit League rival IPFW (Sept. 27) and Evansville (Sept. 30).
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Ben Turner, Asst. SID
