PEORIA, Ill. - The Panthers fell 3-2 to in-state rival Bradley late Wednesday night. Eastern Illinois valiant efforts come up short as they drop to 0-1 to start the season. The Bradley Braves get their season started with a win as their record moves to 1-0. EIU will play Western Illinois next on Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. to open up the conference season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- EIU took 16 shots in comparison to Bradley's 19 shots
- Three of the 16 shots by the Panthers were on goal
- The Panthers took six corners in comparison to Bradley's four
- Mac VanOudt finished with six saves
- Shady Omar led the team with five shot attempts
In the first half of play, the Panthers managed five shots, two by
Shady Omar, one by
Lenni Kirschner, one by
Alejandro Lurbe, and one by
Jonas Castelhano. Neither team scored a goal in the first half.
Mac VanOudt made his collegiate debut, played 63 minutes, and recorded six saves in his first appearance in a Panthers uniform.Â
The second half of play was an all-out offensive battle. The Bradley Braves struck first in the 63rd minute of the match off a rebound goal that came off the crossbar. The Braves struck only two minutes after the first goal, this time from a kick that got past
Landon Dove, who also made his Panthers debut tonight. The Panthers didn't hang their heads, however, as
Julian Smith scored a goal in the 69th minute. Smith found the back of the net from 30 yards out off a nice pass from
Gorka Delgado. The Braves struck back in the 79th minute of play off a cross that set up an easy goal. EIU was able to pull within one off a
Shady Omar header that came from an assist by
Reed Axthelm. It was too little too late for EIU, as the Panthers weren't able to tie the game up in the waning minutes.
The Panthers will look ahead to Summit League play against Western Illinois on Feb. 12, at 6 p.m.
