This weekend the Eastern women’s soccer team will play in its first Ohio Valley Conference games, looking to pull itself out of a slump.

On Friday, the Panthers match up against Morehead State in Kentucky for their conference season opener.

Eastern then will return home in anticipation for its home opener at noon Sunday against Tennessee Tech.

Pressure will be on forwards Beth Liesen and Lindsey Holcomb to come up with a win, especially because of Tech’s recent success.

The Golden Eagles have started off hot and are currently on a three-game winning streak.

Additionally, Tech is 7-5-0 overall; whereas Eastern comes up short with a 4-4-2 record, losing four times in overtime.

Since Golden Eagle goalkeeper Lisa Wourms recently had her first shutout this season, good offensive pressure will be a key factor in the game.

Despite this impressive background, Eastern has Tennessee Tech head coach Patrick Farmer worried.

“Eastern Illinois has been the conference representative the last two years in the NCAA Tournament,” Farmer said on Tennessee Tech’s Web site.

“So, we’ll find out Sunday whether we’ll be in the running for the conference championship or whether we’ll just be fighting to make the tournament.”