[Box Score]

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Mike Novotny comes up huge as Eastern Illinois men's soccer snaps an eight game losing streak and pick up their first Summit League win of the season after defeating IUPUI 1-0 at Lakeside Field Sunday [Oct. 25] afternoon. The win improves the Panthers to 3-10 on the season and 1-3 in conference play while IUPUI drops to 1-8-5 and 1-1-2 after earning their first Summit League loss of the season. 

Trevor Kerns earned his second goal of the season to put the Panthers ahead while Novotny reeled in five saves during the match, including a massive penalty kick save, to earn EIU their first shutout of the season and help cement the victory. 

The first half of the match was extremely defensive as neither team looked to concede. The Jaguars only had one shot on target as Novotny earned his only save of the half after a stellar diving save to keep the teams level going into halftime. The Panthers would end the first period of play without a single shot to their name.

The Panthers came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders to start the second half as Tyler Massa found Kerns streaking down the left side of the pitch putting him one on one with the keeper. Kerns would charge the box and slide a low kick pass the IUPUI keeper to give EIU the lead 1-0 in the 49th minute. The Jaguars' Eduardo Cortes is one of the top goalkeepers in the nation and leads the Summit League in saves per game, but did not earn a single save during the match.

The Panthers would spend the rest of the half in defensive mode as IUPUI put on the pressure to find a tying goal. The Jaguars earned a penalty kick late in the match as a hand ball was called against EIU in the penalty area in the 71st minute. IUPUI's Clint Hoffar stepped up to the spot to take the kick and sent the ball towards the right side netting, but Novotny was there as he parried the ball away to keep the Panthers ahead 1-0. EIU would hold off the late IUPUI charge to win the game 1-0.

Davis Wegmann and Jacob Lysik each had shots for the Panthers during the match.

EIU does not get a lot of time to celebrate the victory as they go right back on the road to face Green Bay this Tuesday [Oct. 27] at 6 p.m.