Eastern Illinois University Athletics

 

The Panthers (6-8-3, 2-6-1 MVC) were the only Valley team to defeat conference champion Missouri State during regular-season play. The 3-0 victory on Oct. 4 was EIU’s first-ever against MSU in Springfield and first shutout of the Bears in 20 all-time meetings. The rematch in Charleston was canceled due to an unexpected death in the Eastern Illinois athletic department.

 

Eastern topped Bradley, 1-0, Oct. 18 in Charleston on a second-half goal by senior Evan Philpott. The Homecoming Weekend victory ended a 10-game winless drought against EIU’s in-state rival. A week later, the Panthers shutout Creighton for the first time since 1984 in a scoreless draw at Lakeside Field.

 

Eastern also posted an impressive exhibition victory against a Butler team that went on to win the Horizon League regular-season title and earn a national seed and opening-round bye in the NCAA Tournament.

 

Harrison helped setup nine of EIU’s 19 goals, ranking second in the league and among the national leaders en route to earning Second Team All-MVC honors. His total was the second highest in the program’s Valley era (1996-present) and good for fifth in a single-season all-time. He setup a goal in four straight games in September.

2008 Season Recap: Awards Highlight Campaign

A third consecutive 10-goal season and First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection for Brad Peters, as well as ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America accolades for Adam Gartner highlighted Eastern Illinois men’s soccer 2008 season.

 

Peters led the league in goals for the third straight year. In the process, the senior became the first Panther in the program’s Valley era (1996-present) to become a three-time First Team All-Conference pick and post three double-figure goal seasons. Peters was named to the Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List in August.

 

Gartner joined classmate Mike Lewis as Academic All-America honorees the last two seasons. Gartner also made EIU and MVC history when he was named one of 10 finalists nationally for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. He became the first Panther and MVC soccer player – male or female – to be a finalist for the prestigious award.

 

As a team, Eastern scored 30 goals for the second year in a row and sixth time since joining the Valley. Fifteen of the 18 EIU field players that saw action this season recorded a point. However, the Panthers also struggled defensively and surrendered a league-high 37 goals, the most since 2003.

2007 Season Recap: Panthers Enjoy Record-Setting Year

A dozen wins, league leaders in goals and assists, and a bevy of individual honors headlined by an Academic All-America selection highlighted Eastern Illinois men’s soccer’s 2007 campaign.

 

With 12 wins, the Panthers matched the program record in the Missouri Valley Conference era (1996-present). Eight of those wins came in shutout fashion, as EIU set a new high-water mark for defensive excellence in the MVC years. Eastern (12-6-3, 2-3-1 MVC) also established new team records for assists (47) and corner kicks (126).

 

Brad Peters led the league with 11 goals for the second year in a row, becoming the first Panther in the Valley era to record back-to-back 10-plus goal seasons. Mick Galeski assisted on five of Peters’ goals en route to finishing with a league-leading 12 helpers, another MVC-years record. The two players also shared the conference lead in points and were First Team All-MVC selections for the second year in a row.