As conference play continues for the women’s soccer teams of the OVC, eight of the conference’s nine teams will be in action Thursday. 

There are four OVC matches on the schedule, with only Southeast Missouri having the day off. 

Three unbeaten teams will put their hot starts to the test Thursday while two winless teams will look to break into the win column. 

SIUE at Eastern, 3 p.m.

The first match on the schedule Thursday is an in-state matchup between Eastern and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. 

The Panthers are one of two teams in the conference with a 1-1-1 record to open OVC play while the Cougars are off to a 2-0 start. 

Eastern will be at home for the match, and Lakeside Field has been the site of all three of the Panthers’ overall wins this season. 

They are 3-2-1 overall at home, whereas Southern Illinois-Edwardsville is 2-4 on the road. 

In their matchup last season, the Cougars beat the Panthers 7-0. It was the largest loss in program history for Eastern and it was the Cougars’ biggest win against an OVC opponent in program history.

This season, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville is averaging 2 goals per game, tied for the top scoring average in the conference. 

Eastern ranks fifth in the conference with its average of .818 goals per game. 

Austin Peay at Morehead State, 5 p.m.

Austin Peay will be looking for its first win of the OVC season against 1-1-1 Morehead State.

The Governors have opened conference play with a pair of shutout losses. 

Morehead State won the matchup of these two teams last season, outlasting the Governors 3-2 in double overtime. 

These two teams have posted similar numbers this season, with Austin Peay scoring 8 goals and allowing 17 and Morehead State scoring 9 goals and also allowing 17.

Murray State at Belmont, 6:30 p.m.

The third match on Thursday will put another of the OVC’s unbeaten teams to the test. 

Belmont (2-0) will host Murray State (1-1), Belmont will be at home, where the Bruins have posted a 4-1 record this season. 

Murray State is 2-4 on the road this season. The Racers hosted Belmont last season, beating the Bruins 3-1. 

Offensively, Murray State has been the top team in the OVC this season. The Racers have scored 22 goals this season. Belmont is fourth in the conference in scoring this season with 10 goals. 

Tennessee-Martin at Tennessee Tech, 7 p.m.

This matchup will feature the OVC’s only 3-0 team in Tennessee-Martin. The Skyhawks have beaten Austin Peay, Eastern and Southeast Missouri, with the last two wins being by scores of 4-1.

Tennessee Tech lost its conference opener 4-3 in overtime against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and then lost to Morehead State 1-0. 

Tennessee-Martin has allowed 11 goals this season, the fewest in the conference, while Tennessee Tech is averaging .571 goals per game, the lowest mark in the OVC.

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