CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's soccer lost a 4-0 home contest to visiting Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri on Friday (Sep. 26) afternoon as the contest marked the league-opener for both squads.  Panthers move to 1-8-1 overall on the season with the loss at Lakeside Field.
 
Eastern will return to league play on Sunday as the Panthers travel to instate rival SIU Edwardsville for a 1 p.m. matchup.
 
The Redhawks (4-3/1-0) took advantage of a 12-5 lead for shots in the first half as SEMO buried three consecutive scores.  Two scores came via the foot of sophomore Natasha Minor at the 11th and 25th minutes of play, respectively, while classmate Christina Rohde then added her own goal off the corner kick feed with just under the 33rd minute mark in the opening frame.

In that half, the visitors had five corner kicks to just one for the Panthers and led EIU in total shots, 12-to-five, yet Eastern junior goalie Emily Hinton did secure three additional saves.

Senior Taylor Byrd botted in a security goal for SEMO at the 66th minute in the second half, thanks to a double Redhawk assist.

SEMO's Minor led all players on the field with six shots, including four on-goal.  EIU seniors Madison Carter and Meagan Radloff each delivered a trio of shots for the Panthers, as Radloff joined classmates Lauren Hoppensteadt and Allie Lakie with a pair of shots on-goal for Eastern.

EIU's Hinton finished with six saves in the net, as SEMO's Kindra Lierz stopped eight Panther attacks for the win.