After losing to Belmont 3-1 on Friday, the Eastern women’s soccer team capped off their four-match homestand by playing OVC-leading Tennessee-Martin to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, the lone Panther goal was scored by Angela Corcoran. It was her first career goal.

But the Panther defense could not contain the Bruins offense, surrendering all three goals in the second half. 

Moving ahead, Sunday was senior day for the Panthers, with Maddie Lyon, Kayla Stolfa, Kate Olson and Elisabeth Held being honored in a pregame ceremony. 

The game itself was a defensive struggle as Tennessee-Martin managed just four shots on goal. Eastern managed one shot on goal. 

Neither team could find the net, and Tennessee-Martin, who entered the match on a five-game win streak, left Lakeside Field with that streak broken. 

The match was physical for both teams. Eastern tallied 12 fouls and Tennessee-Martin added 15.

Three Panthers, Kate Olson, Pilar Barrio and Angela Corcoran, picked up yellow cards. 

Head coach Jake Plant said it is important for the players to keep a level head in physical contests.

“Composure and professionalism is key in a game like that, because it’s very easy for it to get out of hand,” Plant said. 

Even as the physical play continued into the overtime periods, the Panthers kept pushing the ball on offense.
“(The team) has done a great job of working their opponent and pushing all the way to the end,” Plant said. “On Friday too, despite the loss, they pushed all the way through to the final whistle.”

While the offense pushed, the defense held off Tennessee-Martin’s attempts to score. 

Anchored by junior goalkeeper Sara Teteak and her four saves, the Panther defense earned their OVC-leading sixth shutout.

Plant said he thought the defensive play was “excellent” against Tennessee-Martin.

“They’re a very dangerous team with very good offensive players, and they didn’t score against us,” Plant said. “I think that’s a testament to what we’ve been working on in training. It’s a testament to the girls’ desire.”

Although they did not pick up a victory, Plant said he was pleased with the team’s weekend performance Sunday. 

“On a weekend like this, with senior day, you can’t ask for much more from the girls,” he said.

Junior forward Sarah DeWolf did not play in either weekend match. She was on the sidelines with her right ankle wrapped for both matches. She had crutches on Friday but was walking around the sidelines without them on Sunday. 

The Panthers will be on the road for the first time in three weeks on Oct. 7 to face Southern Illinois Edwardsville. It is Eastern’s only match that weekend.

Their next home match will be on Thursday, Oct. 11, and it will be their final home match of the season.

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].