MATCHES 14-15
The Panther women's soccer team hits the road for back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference matches at Austin Peay on Friday, Oct. 11 and Murray State on Sunday, Oct. 13.
EIU is in first place of the conference standings with a 4-0 record. Austin Peay is 8-2-1 overall and rank second in the OVC with a 3-0-1 record while Murray State is 4-6-1 on the year and 1-3 in conference play.
HOPPENSTEADT, JERZY EARN OVC WEEKLY HONORS
Eastern Illinois women's soccer players Lauren Hoppensteadt and Cortney Jerzy earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Hoppensteadt was tabbed the defensive player of the week while Jerzy earned goalkeeper of the week honors for the second consecutive week.
After missing the team's last four matches with an injury, Hoppensteadt played in both matches last weekend from start to finish as the Panthers posted 1-0 victories over Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. For the first time this season, she moved from the midfield to the defensive back line and was integral in helping the Panthers post back-to-back shutouts for the first time since September of 2011.
Jerzy did not allow a goal last weekend and posted two shutouts, helping the Panthers to a 4-0 start in OVC action for the first time since 2000. The Homer Glen, Ill., native made nine saves against Morehead State on Oct. 4 and one save against Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 6. She is the first EIU goalkeeper to post back-to-back shutouts since Kaylin Lorbert on Oct. 22-24, 2010.
PANTHER NOTES
• Meagan Radloff scored both game-winning goals for the Panthers last weekend in their 1-0 wins over Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. The junior midfielder found the back of the net in the 83rd minute against the Eagles and the 88th minute against the Colonels.
• Meagan Radloff has four goals in OVC play this season, the second most in the conference. The West Chicago, Ill., native is tied for first in the conference in game-winning goals with two.
• In OVC only matches, the Panthers rank second in goals (7) and third in points (18).
• Cortney Jerzy has a 0.50 goals against average during OVC play, the third highest average in the conference. She leads the OVC in shutouts with three.
• Head coach Jason Cherry became the first head coach in the OVC to start their conference schedule with a 4-0 record in their first year at their school. Former Tennessee Tech head coach Qasim Sheikh posted a 4-0 record in OVC play (only played four total conference matches) during the 1998 season, the school's first year in the OVC and his second overall season as the Golden Eagles head coach. The OVC began sponsoring women's soccer in 1998 with five member schools.
AUSTIN PEAY SERIES HISTORY
The Panthers are 6-3-2 all-time against the Lady Govs, including a 2-2-2 record when playing in Clarksville, Tenn. EIU has lost two consecutive matches at Austin Peay and is looking for its first win in Clarksville since a 2-0 victory on Sept. 24, 2004.
The Panthers dropped their last match at Austin Peay, 1-0, on Oct. 23, 2011 in double overtime. Last season, the Lady Govs handed EIU a 6-1 loss in Charleston on Oct. 12.
MURRAY STATE SERIES HISTORY
EIU is 7-4-4 all-time versus the Racers with a 3-3-2 mark when play in Murray, Ky. The Panthers have dropped their last two road matches in the series and are looking for their first win in Murray since a 2-1 overtime victory on Nov. 6, 2007 in the OVC Tournament.
Last season, the Panthers defeated the Racers, 1-0, in Charleston on Oct. 14. Then-sophomore Meagan Radloff scored her first career goal in the win.
SCOUTING THE LADY GOVS
The Lady Govs are led by the conference's reigning offensive player of the year, Tatiana Ariza. She has 11 goals and three assists this season and was recently tabbed offensive player of the week on Oct. 8. Gina Fabbro ranks second in the team in goals with six.
Defensively, Nikki Filippone has a 0.45 goals against average in 11 matches played with one shutout. She has made a team-high 26 saves on the year.
SCOUTING THE RACERS
Julie Mooney leads a group of six Racers who have scored multiple goals this season with a team-high five goals. She has also added five assists on the year.
In goal, Savanna Haberman has posted a 1.41 goals against average with 54 saves in 11 matches played. She also has one shutout in OVC play this season, coming in the team's last match – a 3-0 win at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 6.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to Lakeside Field on Friday, Oct. 18 when they play host to Jacksonville State at 3 p.m.
