Eastern Illinois vs. #24 Bowling Green 

Tuesday, September 24 

6pm – Bowling Green, Ohio (Cochrane Stadium)  

Watch | Live Stats 
 

ON-TAP: The Eastern Illinois men's soccer team (1-3-1, OVC 0-0) is preparing for their second consecutive matchup in the state of Ohio as they take on #24 Bowling Green (6-1-1, MAC 2-0) at 6pm on Tuesday night at Cochrane Stadium. The Panthers look to build off their momentum generated in Dayton a week ago, as they finished in a 2-2 draw to Wright State. Bowling Green enters Tuesday's contest coming off a 2-1 victory over Bradley University on Saturday.  

NEXT UP: Following Tuesday Night's event, Eastern Illinois begins its first OVC action of the season, traveling to SIUE on October 3 to take on the Cougars. First kick is set for 6pm at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Illinois.  

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: Graduate Student Sam Eccles carried over his offensive production from the 2023 season as he was able to record two assists in the opening victory versus the University of Chicago. Eccles has accounted for five total points so far in 2024, leading the Panthers at the offensive end of the field. Eccles has already logged three assists this year, tying his season total from a year ago just five games into the season. Freshman Jackson Liley currently sits at the top of the goal scoring list for Eastern Illinois, recording two goals on five shots.  

OVC PLAYER TO WATCH: Eccles was also named as EIU's Ohio Valley Conference preseason player to watch after a strong 2023 campaign. He looks to build off of his numbers from a season ago as he logged 1381 total minutes and started all 18 games he appeared in.  

GOAL PRODUCTION RETURNING: In addition, Eastern Illinois returns the next two points leaders from the 2023 season, Casey Welage and Felipe Kerr Lourenco. Welage finished the season with six points as Kerr Lourenco was close behind with five. Sophomore Kyle Kimberling is set to return as well as he finished the season as the Panthers second leading goal scorer.   

BATTLE IN THE NET: In 2023, Eastern Illinois had three goalkeepers who shared time throughout the season. Senior Chad Smith held the box for a majority of the seasons matches as he started in 11 of the 12 games that he appeared in.  In addition, EIU returns two other goalkeepers from last season, Joseph Whelan and Kyce Toutanji. Joseph and Toutanju each earned starts in all games that they appeared in. Toutanji earned the most recent start for the Panthers (Sep 4) as he was able to notch a career high 10 saves while only allowing one goal. Additionally, the Panthers added one more body in goal in redshirt freshman Lucas Ortiz.  

SERIES HISTORY: This marks the sixth all-time meeting between the Panthers and the Falcons as the last matchup between both programs was played in Bowling Green in 2014. The Falcons won 3-1, and Eastern Illinois trails the all-time series 1-3-1.  

HEAD COACH: Josh Oakley enters his third season as the head coach of the EIU men's soccer program. Oakley spent two years on the Eastern Illinois staff as an assistant coach from 2000-02. He was hired as 11th head coach in EIU men's soccer program history in June of 2022 and guided EIU to an OVC Tournament semifinal appearance with a first-round win over Liberty. Prior to EIU, Oakley was the Head coach of Lansing Common FC in the Midwest Premier League. During his time in the MWPL, Lansing Common FC produced three MWPL Golden Boot Award winners (given to the league's top goal scorer).