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INDIANAPOLIS – The Eastern Illinois women's soccer team started their 2015 season on a positive note Friday night, playing to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at IUPUI. The Panthers saw favorable signs on both ends of the field as freshman goalkeeper Maddie Lyon earned the first clean sheet of her career.
 
IUPUI tested the freshman keeper and the rest of the Panther defense early taking an 8-2 shot advantage in the first 15 minutes of the game. The game seemed to continue with IUPUI applying pressure on the Panthers back line until the 18th minute, when Hannah Miller laced a shot that had to be saved by the Jaguars goalie Catherine Schmidt.
 
EIU began to take control of the match in the final ten minutes of the first half. The Panthers saw shots from Carrie Caplin, Elisabeth Held, and Emily Wolf but were unable to put one past the IUPUI keeper.
 
Defense was the tale of the 2nd half as both offenses were held to eight shots combined.
 
The Panthers continued with their shut-down defense during the two overtime periods. Molly Hawkins gave EIU their best scoring chance in the first overtime by taking a shot within the first minute high of the crossbar. Moments later, a shot by the Jaguars Torri Minnich bounced off the post ending the game at a 0-0 draw.
 
Miller and Hawkins led the Panthers offense with five and three shots respectively. Lyon ended the game with nine saves.
 
The Eastern Illinois women's soccer team is back in action this Sunday, at 1 p.m. when they host Northern Kentucky at Lakeside Field.