With eight minutes left to play in regulation against Saint Francis, Eastern senior Zach Medawattage delivered what would be the eventual game winning goal, breaking an 82-minute 0-0 tie, giving his team a 1-0 victory and its second win in three games. This tide-turning goal by Medawattage occurred on Sep. 10 and would be the last goal Eastern would see for 31 days; and counting.  

After losing in double-overtime Tuesday night 1-0 to Bradley, the Eastern men’s soccer team locked itself in for a seventh straight game where the offense failed to score a goal.  

All six of the Panther’s losses this season have come during the seven-game scoreless drought, as Eastern has seen its record drop from 2-0-4 to 2-6-5 since the streak began with a 3-0 loss against Marshall on Sep 13. 

The four goals the Panthers have scored as a team on offense this season ranks 204th, second to last, among all Division I schools in the nation.  

On a brighter note for the Panthers, goalkeeper Mike Novotny is having a senior season to be long-remembered, as he is currently tied for first in the country with Bradley’s Brandon Barnes for most saves in the NCAA with 71. 

With a 0-2-1 conference record, Eastern currently sits in a tie for last place in the Summit League with Fort Wayne.  

Cross-state rival Western Illinois sits alone at the top of the conference standings with a 2-0 record and six conference points. Much of Western’s success this season can be credited to the combo of Drew Whalen and Fernando Pacheco, who with seven goals apiece are tied for second in the conference in goals scored. 

Western is coming off a non-conference loss Monday night to Northwestern. 

Reigning conference champion Denver is chasing Western with its 1-0 conference record and three points. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to Tulsa on the road.  Denver will have a key opportunity to make up ground on Western this weekend as they take on an ailing Fort Wayne team on the road.  

Coming off a blowout 5-0 win against Fort Wayne is Oral Roberts, who is tied with Denver in the standings with a 1-0 record and three points. Oral Roberts travels to Charleston Thursday to face Eastern. Oral Roberts is second in the conference with 17 goals scored this season.  

Trying to work their way out of an unfamiliar spot in the conference standings is Omaha, who after tying the Summit League bottom two teams in Fort Wayne and Eastern, is fourth in the standings with a 0-0-2 record. Omaha has not won a game since Sep. 17 when they beat Utah Valley 3-1.  

Omaha does however boast the Summit League’s top scorer in Elbir Ibisevic who has eight goals this season.  

Rounding out the standings is Eastern and Fort Wayne who both find themselves with 0-2-1 conference records.  

Much of Fort Wayne’s issues this season can be credited to their 1:2 goal to goals against ratio as they have scored 12 goals and surrendered 24. 

JJ Bullock can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]