Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois men's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw against Illinois-Springfield in their final exhibition match of the season. The Panthers close out their preseason matches undefeated with two wins and one tie as they head into the regular season. 

Justin Oliver kept his scoring streak intact as he earned the lone goal for the Panthers, bringing his preseason total to six goals over the past three exhibition matches.

R.J. Hill earned the start once again for EIU, playing all 90 minutes of the match and recording three saves.

It was a very evenly matched first half for both teams as the Panthers and the Prairie Stars finished the first period with two shots each. UIS threatened with two free kicks just outside the penalty area during the first period of play, but both were sent straight into the wall as the first half drew to a close with both teams deadlocked at 0-0.

Oliver finally broke the stalemate midway through the second half as he was able to jump on a loose ball in the box. Davis Wegmann helped to set up the scoring play dribbling into the eight yard box and firing off a shot that the UIS goalkeeper managed to parry away. Unfortunately for the Prairie Star's keeper, the ball fell right to Oliver in front of the open net and he slotted it home to give EIU the 1-0 lead in the 69th minute.

It was shortly after the Panther goal that UIS managed to tie the match with a deflected ball of their own. After a scramble for the ball in the EIU penalty area the ball bounced out to UIS' Alejandro Inostroza standing at the top of the penalty box. Inostroza managed to slide a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net to even the match up at 1-1 in the 73rd minute.

Both teams attempted to find that winning goal as time expired, but were unsuccesful as the final whistle blew with the score tied at 1-1. 

Oliver finished the match with three shots, one on goal while Wegmann recorded two shots with one on goal. Julian Montoya, Jacob Lysik, Tyler Enright, and Alessandro Corti all recorded one shot in the match.

The Panthers open up the 2016 regular season this Friday (Aug. 26) when they travel to Northern Kentucky for a 6 p.m. match.