This time there would be no dramatic finish in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Eastern quickly got on the scoreboard with a goal from senior Beth Liesen and never let up, beating Southeast Missouri 3-0 Friday.

The Panthers had played one-goal games in the past four matchups with the Otahkians, but wanted to make sure they got a good start and keep it going.

“They came out hard in the first five to 10 minutes,” Eastern coach Steve Ballard said.

Liesen gave the Panthers the lead in the 10th minute on a shot from about nine yards out that beat SEMO goalkeeper Amanda Wroz. Sophomore Morgan Frericks got the assist on the play.

“Getting Beth Liesen that first goal was crucial,” Ballard said.

The next crucial part was to not let SEMO get a quick retaliation score and let them back in the game.

Junior Audra Frericks goal in the 23rd minute did just that. Frericks got up high to head in a Rachel Dorfman pass for her fifth goal of the season.

Ballard said his team’s ability to keep up the pressure was something that had been lacking in some previous games this season.

“That’s one of those things we have struggled with,” Ballard said. “We did not give them any breathing room. We got on top of our game and got on them from start to finish.”

Despite dominating the scoreboard in the first half, Eastern trailed in shots 8-7 after the first 45 minutes of play.

In the second half, the Panthers didn’t let off the pressure, out-shooting the Otahkians 8-3 and gaining an insurance goal from Liesen with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

The Eastern defense held SEMO to six shots on goal with Tiffany Groene making all six saves.

“They were on the spot,” Ballard said. When you can hold a team between six and 10 shots on goal, that’s pretty good.”

After the uplifting win, Eastern traveled to DePaul Sunday for a non-conference matchup. Both teams had equal opportunities, but the Blue Demons came out on top in overtime 2-1.

Eastern held a 1-0 lead through the first half off Liesen’s 18th goal of the season on a pass from Teri LaRoche.

DePaul tied the game in the 70th minute on a goal from Kelly DeBaene, forcing an overtime as regulation ended with a 1-1 tie.

Bren Sugarman notched the win for the Blue Demons on a rebound shot in the first overtime for her first goal of the season. The loss was Eastern’s first since Groene took over the starting goalkeeper role eight games ago.

Eastern currently sits one point behind Samford in the Ohio Valley Conference with one game remaining in the conference schedule.

An Eastern win would clinch at least the second seed in conference tournament. A Samford loss or tie and an Eastern win would give the Panthers home field advantage.

Eastern plays Austin Peay Friday at Lakeside Field while Samford hosts Jacksonville State.