Eastern’s women’s head soccer coach Steve Ballard instilled into his team the motto, “Have a fear of losing and you’ll win.”

The Panthers will take that advice into their season opener at Valparaiso Friday before traveling to Loyola University in Chicago Sunday.

When asked about how his team looked after last weekend’s exhibition game, Ballard answered with pride, “The team is making progress after only having four or five days for preseason.”

Ballard said continued hard work has been the driving force behind that progress.

“The team is continuing to work hard,” he said. “The girls’ effort at practice and on-the-field work ethic is very exceptional. They all are pleasant to coach.”

Ballard isn’t singling out any one or two players to be the key scorers on the team.

“We don’t have one person. We have a whole team,” he said. “I don’t single out one person because everyone on the team puts forth the effort.”

Ballard expeects to continue to give his freshmen keepers Tiffany Groene, Lindsay Dechert and Lynne Goehler all playing time in the net.

“All three goalies are a great assets to the team, and we are fortunate to have them,” he said. “The team respects them.”

With the trio of new goalies out to stop the opposing teams, Ballard said his team needs to focus on scoring early and often.

“They need to go hard and push to score in every chance they have,” he said.

He is also expecting to win the game and to focus on Loyola immediately following. “There is no time to let down this weekend.”

Ballard said practices this week have been focused on, “Fitness, fitness, fitness!” One aspect of their game, Ballard thinks his players need to improve on since the exhibition game is using more of the field.

“We need to not play such a close game, and should spread the field more,” he said.

Valparaiso head coach Stephen Anthony believes Eastern’s offense is it’s strongest asset.

“Eastern’s team is a solid team and they have strong forwards,” Anthony said. “The group of girls that came in this past year as freshmen are extremely talented.”

Anthony said he sees the Panthers becoming a more dangerous team as the season continues.

“Eastern isn’t that much of a threat right now because of it being the beginning of the season,” he said. “But towards that later part of the season, that is when it becomes more important.”