Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A goal in the dying minutes of the match proved to be the deciding factor for Western Michigan Sunday afternoon as the Eastern Illinois men's soccer team fell to the Broncos 3-2. With the loss EIU falls to 2-3-1 on the season while WMU improves to 6-1.

The Panthers held their own against Western Michigan matching the Broncos goal for goal and tying the match twice throughout the early afternoon contest, but could not hold on late to send the match into extra time. 

The Broncos opened the scoring midway through the first period as WMU's Edu Jimenez sent a corner kick into the penalty box. The corner kick eventually found its way to Connor McNulty's feet who passed it back out to the top of the six-yard box where the Broncos' Jay McIntosh was waiting to blast a shot into the right corner giving WMU a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

EIU answered back later in the period as Miguel Carillo rocketed a shot from 20 yards out to find the back of the net and tie the match up 1-1 in the 35th minute. Both teams headed into halftime deadlocked at 1-1.

Christian Sosnowski was the only other Panther to have a shot in the first period. Goalkeeper Mike Novotny made two saves in the first period only to be replaced by R.J. Hill for the second half. 

Western Michigan came out strong to begin the second period pushing for the go-ahead goal eventually earning a penalty kick in the 54th minute. WMU's Jimenez stepped up to the spot for the Broncos burying the PK in the back of the net to once again put Western Michigan in front 2-1.

The Panthers would not let up tying the match once again less than three minutes later as Yann Nsoga pick-pocketed a WMU defender. Nsoga found an open Trevor Kerns one-on-one with the Bronco goalkeeper leading to Kerns' first goal of the season as EIU pulled even in the 57th minute 2-2. The assist from Nsoga is his second of the season so far.

It was an all-out attack from Western Michigan for the majority of the second period as Hill faced 14 shots throughout the half. The Panther defense was holding strong as the match appeared to be heading to extra time. 

Jimenez would play savior for WMU though as he managed to slide a pass through EIU's central defense to put Cameron Simple one-on-one with Hill. Simple scored the match-winner in the 85th minute as the Panthers were unable to tie the match up for a third time in the last few minutes of the match.

Jimenez finished the match with one goal and one assist while tallying four shots with three on goal. Kerns led the Panthers with three total shots, two of which were on goal. Jonathan Huerta was the only other Panther with a shot on goal finishing with one shot.

Hill recorded three saves in his 45 minutes in the net for EIU. Western Michigan out-shot EIU 21-6 during the match.

EIU continues their road trip this coming Wednesday at Wright State as the Panthers take on the Raiders in a match on ESPN 3 at 6 p.m.