Eastern’s women’s soccer team’s record of 4-3-2, doesn’t exactly scream, “Back-to-back NCAA College Cup Appearances,” like the team’s media guide boasts on the cover, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary for the Panthers.

Last year, the Panthers started their season 4-5-1 before they started their Ohio Valley Conference schedule. It was a far cry from the previous season when the team started out 7-1 before it’s first OVC game.

Which begs the question, why have the Panthers had such slow starts the past two seasons?

“I honestly don’t know why its like that,” said senior forward Beth Liesen.

Is it a matter of not being in condition or the team is not in sync with each other yet?

Eastern head coach Steve Ballard doesn’t think so.

“My girls know exactly what they want to do and they’re comfortable with the program,” Ballard said. “They can do what they want to do and they control the outcome of the game.”

Liesen agrees with Ballad and says luck is to blame for the lack of wins.

“We’ve just been unlucky,” Liesen said. “Everything is there, there’s no reason for it. It’s just, not everything is falling into place right now.”

Liesen doesn’t believe the problem is condition or communication between teammates on a roster dominated by upperclassmen.

“We’re where we’re supposed to be,” Liesen said. “It’s just, we’re not finishing.”

Then what is the reason the Panthers haven’t been playing at the level Panther fans expect?

Ballard said it’s because of the pressure the team puts on itself.

“I think it just comes down to the girls are so good and they have such high expectations on themselves that sometimes they get down on themselves because of that,” Ballard said.

A year ago Eastern was winning at the time of year a team is supposed to be winning, at playoff time.

The Panthers won five of their last six games of the season, including both of their OVC Tournament games, one of which an overtime nail-biter against rival Southeast Missouri State.

Why does Eastern play better at the end of the season?

“It’s just the pressure of knowing that it’s the end of the year and there’ s no room for error,” Liesen said. “If you lose you’re done.

“At conference time there’s always more energy too,” Liesen said.

As the Panthers take the field against Valparaiso, for their last non-conference game before they start their OVC schedule Oct. 3 against Morehead State, fans will wonder will they see the team from the end of last year or the will the struggling Panthers of late remain on Lakeside Field.

According Ballard and Liesen, Panther fans have nothing to worry about.

“I am, as well as the rest of the team, very confident that we can get back to where we were last year,” Liesen said.

Ballard was even more confident.

“This team is going to win, end of question,” Ballard said.