The Eastern women’s soccer team lost 3-1 to Valparaiso on Friday at Lakeside Field, but it could be the loss of goalkeeper Kylie Morgan that hurts a bit more for the 0-7-1 Panthers.

Morgan collided with Valparaiso’s Robin Wenzel early in the first half, when both players were in the air competing for the ball. The officials called a foul, but Morgan stayed down for several minutes before being helped off the field by the training staff.

Junior Emily Hinton went in to replace Morgan, who sat out the rest of the match with a wrap and ice on her right shoulder.

Eastern head coach Jason Cherry was unsure of Morgan’s status following the match.

“Hopefully she’ll be alright,” he said. “It was a tough hit, but those things happen in the game.”

Morgan started the last four matches for the Panthers, making a total of 19 saves and giving up eight goals. Without Morgan, Hinton is the only goalkeeper on the Panthers’ roster, as Cortney Jerzy was declared inactive before the start of the season. Morgan missed most of last season with a hand injury that she suffered in the pregame warm-ups against Valparaiso on Sept. 22, 2013.

“I know our team, I believe in my team that there would be someone who would step up if needed and do the best they could,” Cherry said. “Hopefully everything will be fine and she’ll be back. Last few games she’s been playing really well and I’m really impressed with her. I’m more than confident in Emily. Emily will step up and do her very best too.”

Eastern got its first goal on a scrum near the Valparaiso goal line. Red-shirt sophomore Lindsey Marino headed the ball that ricocheted off the goalpost, into the net and back out. After some short confusion on the field, the officials deemed it a goal and the Panthers were ahead 1-0.

“I saw it rolled in and it rolled back out and I didn’t know if (the official) was going to count it,” Marino said.

Senior defender Allie Lakie was credited with the assist. It is Marino’s first goal of the season and Lakie’s first assist of the season.

After leading 1-0 at half, Valparaiso was able to bounce back in the second half with three goals in the 57th, 66th and 80th minute. Three different players recorded goals for the Crusaders, with Vanesa Abdad taking the first, April Cronin the second and Wenzel the third.

Eastern will end non-conference play on Sunday on the road with a 1 p.m. match at Chicago State.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].