The Eastern Illinois men's soccer team earned its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season Thursday night, defeating Southern Indiana 6-2. The Panthers scored four goals in the first half and added two more in the second to improve to 2-5-2 overall and 1-1-0 in OVC play.
Eastern Illinois' offensive performance brought back memories of the program's historic 8 goal match against UIC on August 29, 2002, as the Panthers once again showcased their scoring ability with a dominant first-half effort.
EIU came out aggressive from the opening whistle, scoring four goals in the first half while holding the Screaming Eagles scoreless. Sergej Misic, Nolan Getzinger, Keidin Green, and Bernardo Hanel each found the back of the net during the opening 45 minutes. Joao Peres recorded two assists in the first half, helping the Panthers build a commanding lead heading into the break.
The Panthers continued their offensive pressure in the second half, adding two more goals to extend their advantage. Getzinger scored his second goal of the night to finish with a team-high two goals, while Conner Bayliss also contributed a goal. Misic finished with one goal on five shots, including three shots on target, while Green added a goal of his own.
Hanel also recorded a goal off the bench, giving the Panthers another scoring option in the attacking third. Luiz Anchieta contributed an assist, while Peres finished the match with two assists to lead the team in that category.
Southern Indiana responded with two second-half goals from Nolan Stevens, who scored twice off the bench, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. The Screaming Eagles finished with 14 shots, including eight on goal, compared to 17 shots and 12 shots on target for Eastern Illinois.
Defensively, goalkeeper Kai Odagiri played all 90 minutes for the Panthers, recording six saves while earning the victory. EIU also controlled the corner-kick battle, finishing with 11 corners compared to three for Southern Indiana.
With the 6-2 victory, Eastern Illinois secured its first conference win of the season and demonstrated the offensive potential that has been part of the program's history. The Panthers will look to carry that momentum into their next OVC matchup as conference play continues.
