Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's soccer wrapped up its exhibition season on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 win over IUPUI at Lakeside Field.
EIU will open the regular season on Thursday hosting Valparaiso with a 4 p.m. start at Lakeside Field. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Sarah Hagg put the Panthers on the board first as EIU used an aggressive offensive attack and was rewarded with a penalty kick late in the first half. Hagg knocked home the penalty kick in the 36th minute to give EIU a 1-0 lead at the half.
EIU had six shots on goal in the opening half and finished the match with nine total shots on goal.
Jenna Little scored her second goal of the exhibition season for what proved to be the match winner. Little scored in the 67th minute as
Nyah Biegler won a ball near midfield and quickly countered to hit Little on the move as she was able to finish off the goal.
Little's other exhibition goal this preseason came on Thursday at UIS. EIU had opened exhibition play on Aug. 6 at Illinois.
IUPUI had two near misses on offensive chances as they had shots hit the post in the 65th and 76th minute. The Jags finally broke through in the 83rd minute as Sam Silmak served a ball into the top of the goal box. Emma Antonie was able to win the race to the loose ball against the Panthers goalkeeper and another EIU defender. She would flick home the ball for IUPUI's goal.
IUPUI had one shot on goal in the opening half and finished with six.
