“Ryan did a great job of controlling it and turning around,” Bullock said. “I curved around to the outside like my coach has been telling me. He slid it through. I got a good touch on it. As coach has told me, 'take a hit whenever you can.' So I just took a hit and went up into the top right corner. [Scoring] in a 1-0 game means a little bit more because there is that edge and tension. Our defense did a wonderful job of not letting them score.”



Eastern (3-3) has now posted three consecutive shutouts for the first time since early in the 2007 season. After making a career-high 14 saves Saturday in a win at DePaul, EIU goalkeeper Sean Molony was credited with only one today. But it was a high-quality save, diving to his left to stop to a shot by Matt Guy near the right post in the 66th minute.

Eastern defenders Graham Lynch and Ryan Tinsley also accounted for team saves. Lynch knocked down a well-struck shot from the right flank by Ian Munro in the 40th minute. The action had quickly shifted from the left to right flank and Munro was unmarked on the back side of the play.

 

In the 82nd minute with EIU protecting its 1-0 lead, Tinsley headed away a header by Jeff Keyler in the six-yard box. That opportunity was created by a long throw in from the west sideline. Molony lost his footing as the ball moved from right to left across the 18-yard box. IUPUI (3-4) was dangerous with its long throw-in chances for much of the game.

 

“Defensively, we were up and down a little bit,” EIU head coach Adam Howarth said. “If you can win the ones where you don't play as well, that's the sign of a good team. Trevor [Kohlrus] was good and Tinsley came in and did real well. The back line has been pretty consistent and you have to give them their due because they're not letting goals in, which has been real nice. Forward play, Ryan Child is making a difference for us. I'm really happy for him.”

Alex Harrison had an excellent opportunity to tack on an insurance goal in the 77th minute but his header climbed just high over the top of the crossbar. Alex Koch setup the chance with a right-to-left cross from the east sideline.

 

IUPUI goalkeeper Tyler Keever finished with five saves, leaving his feet to stop shots by Jonathan Hinds and Lynch in the 22nd and 73rd minutes, respectively. The Jaguars had a 16-11 edge in shots but managed to only put three shots on goal. Eastern recorded six shots on goals.

 

But IUPUI limited the Panthers to only two corner kicks. The initial corner chance did not come until the 72nd minute. Eastern successfully defended all six of the Jaguars' corners.

Mike Picinich, Lynch and Koch went the distance among the EIU field players. Tinsley logged 35 minutes to lead the reserves, taking over for Kohlrus and finishing out the game shortly after Bullock scored.

 

Bullock's goal was his second career game-winner, ending EIU's streak of 10 consecutive victories with a different player accounting for the decisive score. The streak dated back to 2008. Bullock accounted for the game-winner in last year's home win against IPFW, game No. 5 of the streak.

 

Child, meanwhile, has now setup the first two goals at Lakeside Field this season. Last Wednesday, he connected a pass to Zach Piekarski that led to the game-winner in EIU's 1-0 victory against Western Illinois.

The Panthers return to action Sunday when they host Western Michigan at 1 p.m.