Eastern Illinois men's soccer players Bernardo Hanel and Kai Odagiri were recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference early this week, as Hanel was named the OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Odagiri earned OVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors following a standout week for the Panthers. 

Hanel helped lead Eastern Illinois to a perfect 2-0 record during the week, recording 2 goals and an assist in the Panthers' two matches. 

The junior midfielder played a key role in EIU's 6-2 road victory at Southern Indiana on Thursday. Hanel found the back of the net as part of a six-goal offensive performance by the Panthers, helping EIU secure its first OVC road victory of the season. 

Hanel then continued his strong play in Sunday's match against SIUE at Lakeside Field, providing a strong presence in the Panthers' attack as EIU battled the Cougars. He scored the game winning goal in the 89th minute to seal the victory over SIUE. That was the Panthers' first win against SIUE since 1996.  

The award marks Hanel's first OVC weekly honor of the season. 

Odagiri also played a major role in EIU's successful week, helping anchor the Panthers defensively while starting both matches in goal. 

The goalkeeper was solid in goal during EIU's 6-2 victory at Southern Indiana, making several key saves while helping the Panthers control the match from the backline.  

Odagiri has been a consistent presence in net for the Panthers recently in the 2026 season, providing stability while helping EIU compete in the OVC play.  

The honor marks Odagiri's first OVC Goalkeeper of the Week award this season. 

Eastern Illinois enters the next stretch of its schedule with momentum after earning points in consecutive OVC matches. The Panthers will look to continue building on their recent success as they will play Western Illinois and UTRGV later this week.