Valparaiso vs. Eastern Illinois
Thursday, August 17
7:30 pm - Valparaiso, Ind.
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats
Eastern Illinois vs. Illinois Springfield
Sunday, August 20
3:00 pm - Lakeside Field (Charleston, Ill.)
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats
ON-TAP: Eastern Illinois opens the 2023 regular season away as the Panthers travel to take on Valparaiso. Last time EIU opened the season away from home was in 2020, when the Panthers faced UT Martin in Martin, Tennessee. EIU's last win to open a season was a 2-0 win in 2017 at IUPUI.
ONSTOTT SCORES IN EXHIBITION PLAY: Eastern Illinois scored eight goals during exhibition play with midfielder
Ella Onstott leading the way with two of the Panthers eight goals. Onstott scored both of her goals against Parkland College.
OVC PLAYER TO WATCH: Cam Korhorn was named the Eastern Illinois player to watch in the OVC this season. A veteran player, Korhorn adds experience to the Panthers midfield this season after starting 13 contests last season. She finished the season tied for second in scoring on the team with 1 goal and 1 assist.
GOAL SCORERS RETURN: On the offensive side, Eastern Illinois returns
Cam Korhorn,
Karima Rangel, and
Serra Pizano. All three players have scored at least one goal last season for the Panthers.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the 17th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Valparaiso. The Panthers hold a slight 7-6-3 lead in the series with the two schools playing to a 0-0 draw during their last match-up in the 2022 season. Against UIS, this will mark the second time in history that the schools meet. In 2021, a 3-0 win gave the Panthers the 1-0 record lead.
HEAD COACH: Dirk Bennett enters his first season as the head coach of the Eastern Illinois women's soccer team. A two-time EIU graduate, Bennett previously served as the Panthers assistant women's soccer coach since July of 2019. In February of 2023, he became the seventh head coach in program history. In 2022, Bennett helped coach the team to a 0.81 goals against average, which is the third best single season mark in school history. He is assisted by
Deanna Hecht and
Kayla Baird.
NEXT UP: After opening up the season this week, EIU will once again have a split schedule for home and road matches next week playing at Northern Illinois on Thursday before hosting Indiana State on Sunday.
