The Eastern women’s soccer team lost 1-0 to Southeast Missouri at home Tuesday afternoon, the third-straight loss for the Panthers.

Eastern is now 1-4 at the halfway point of the season, making them one of three teams tied for ninth place in the OVC. Southeast Missouri improved to 4-4 with the win and is tied with Southern Illinois-Edwardsville for second in the OVC. Murray State is leading the conference at 5-0.

For much of the game Tuesday, Eastern was able to hold off the Redhawk’s attack.

Southeast Missouri outshot Eastern 5-2 in the first half, but the match remained scoreless at halftime.

It remained scoreless well into the second half as well until Redhawk freshman Emma Brune got one by Eastern goalkeeper Daniel Bermeo in the 78th minute. It was Brune’s first career goal.

Eastern had an opportunity to tie the score just two minutes later on a shot from junior Amanda DaSilva, but Southeast Missouri junior goalkeeper Bailey Redden made the save.

The Panthers had another shot from sophomore midfielder Kenzie Balcerak in the final minute of the match that missed wide to the right.

Southeast Missouri had 13 shots in the match, five of which were on goal. Eastern had six shots, two of which were on goal.

DaSilva led the Panthers with three shots and had both of the team’s shots on goal. They were the first shots of the season for DaSilva Eastern freshmen Karima Rangel and Cam Korhorn each attempted a shot, as did Balcerak.

Bermeo had 4 saves and now leads the OVC with 30 saves this season.

The loss was the fourth shutout loss for the Panthers this season. They have just one goal this season, the fewest in the OVC, which was a game-winner by senior forward Haylee Renick in double-overtime against Morehead State on March 5, the Panthers’ home opener.

Three players are tied for the team lead in shots this season for the Panthers.

They are Renick, sophomore midfielder Nicoletta Anuci and sophomore forward Zenaya Barnes with 5 shots apiece. Barnes leads the team in shots on goal with four.

Outside of a record-setting 7-0 loss against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville March 9, the Eastern defense has been solid. They have allowed just a single goal in each of the other three losses.

Eastern’s next match will be on the road against Belmont on March 19. The Bruins are 2-3 this season and snapped a three-match losing streak on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Tennessee Tech. Eastern played Belmont on the road last season as well, falling to the Bruins 1-0 in double overtime.

The Panthers have lost their last six matches against Belmont, with their last win in the matchup coming in the 2013 season.

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