After nearly 80 minutes, forward Sharyne Connell ended the match the way she started it – with an unassisted goal.

“Sharyne Connell’s goals tonight were critical scores,” Eastern head coach Steve Ballard said.

The Panthers’ sophomore led her squad to a 3-2 victory against Loyola in the Windy City by finding the back of the net twice on only three shots.

The Panthers earned a pair of wins away from Lakeside Field over the weekend as Eastern defeated Bowling Green 4-2 evenging last year’s tie in Charleston.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead into halftime after Connell’s first goal and senior forward Beth Liesen tallied her team-high third goal of the season unassisted at the 37-minute mark.

The Panthers played a pair of goalkeepers Sunday night with both Lindsey Dechert and Tiffany Groene allowing a goal each and combined on 8 saves.

Ballard said his change in goal was more becuase of a confidence in both players instead of dissapointment with Dechert.

“We decided to make a change and I feel good with both of them in goal,” Ballard said.

Coming out of the locker room, Loyola played with emotion as Laura Vineyard scored after her shot banged off the crossbar and deflected off Dechert and in the net.

Afer the 74th minute, Lanisa Tricoci notted the score up at two after her header found the back of the net.

“This weekend we’ve had a 2-0 lead fall apart to a 2-2 tie and then we win,” Ballard said. “I think that shows the maturing process of this team.”

The final 15 minutes was sloppy and agressive as the two Frericks sisters received yellow cards. Midfielder Morgan Frericks received a card at the 85 minute mark and two minute later Audra Frericks had the referee presented her with one. Overall, the Panthers received 16 fouls to Loyola’s five.

With 10 minutes left and the score still tied, Connell found herself on a one-on-one situation with the keeper and beat Loyola’s Emily Peick to her right to ensure a Panther victory.

Ballard seemed upbeat about where the Panthers are going compared to last season’s struggle out of the gate.

“I think last season’s team struggled to find its team identity, but I think this team has found it much earlier,” Ballard said.

This weekend marked the return of defender Lee Ann Langsfeld from injury which has sparked a pair of wins and more consisent play in the last line of defense.

“Lee Ann has come back from basically inactivity to play well,” Ballard said. “We got about half a game out of her tonight and she’s a big part of this team.”

Ballard seemed confident the 2003 Panthers could reach heights never even dreamed of by anyone closest to the program.

“It only matters where you finish at the end of the season and if we finish like we did last year, we’ll be happy,” Ballard said. “But I think this team could go farther than any of team this school has had.”