The Missouri Valley Conference schedule is here.

While the Panthers’ weekend opponents are at the bottom of the pack, Eastern (5-3-1) has shined, and is even ranked 10th in the most recent NSCAA/ Adidas Midwest poll.

Eastern begins its 2003 conference campaign at home for a weekend set against Western Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. Friday and a match against Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Western Kentucky (3-5-1) is the lone school in the MVC with a losing record heading into conference play, while Vanderbilt sits in ninth place with a non-conference record of 3-3-3.

While coach Adam Howarth usually says the Panthers win with a complete team effort, a few individual players have led the way the past couple games.

Both junior Kurt Krupa and senior Abraham Martinez are riding three-game scoring streaks while Jimmy Klatter and Chad Dumonceaux have scored points in two straight.

Eastern has only one loss in its last six games and starting MVC play at home could be the one thing the Panthers need to make it one loss in eight games.

Western Kentucky’s record does not tell the story of its season so far. The Commodores are coming into Charleston with a recent 4-0 shutout win over Belmont and have outscored their opponents 18-11. They have also outshot the other teams 160-106.

While Eastern has had the scoring tandem of Martinez and Klatter, Western Kentucky has a duo of its own. Sophomores Daniel Payne and Steven Medlock have three goals a piece to lead the Hilltoppers in scoring.

Vanderbilt’s downfall this season has been its inability to put the ball in the net.

The Commodores have only scored nine goals in its nine games, being shutout three times.

Another flaw for Vanderbilt is it hasn’t been able to win away from home. They are currently 0-2-2 on the road.

This match will also be the homecoming of former Panther coaches Tim McClements and Kyle Mittendorf.

McClements compiled a 30-42-4 record in his four years at Eastern, while Mittendorf was a former defender and was assistant last year before following his former coach to Nashville.