The Eastern women’s soccer team finished their season with a 2-0 loss to Southern Indiana on Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers went into the match hoping for their first win in the conference and to earn a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Screaming Eagles came in with the same goal in mind and beat EIU.

USI scored both late in the first half and early in the second half with five shots on goal. EIU only had three shots on goal.

EIU finished the season with a 2-6-8 (0-4-4 OVC) record and USI finished in seventh place just above UT Martin with a 3-9-4 (1-5-2 OVC) record.

Eastern has not had a winning season since 2006 when they had a 8-7-5 (4-1-4 OVC) record and they have not won the conference since 2000 when they went undefeated in conference and had a 11-9 overall record.

They finished with eight total ties, which is their highest number of ties in years. 

Records going back to 1998 show that he last highest number of ties from EIU is six in 2018 and 2013.

EIU had a promising beginning to their season and had many good things happen. 

Those ties were the big thing that hurt them this season. They showed a lot of potential and fight throughout the season.

They have a lot to work on during the offseason to get the program back up off its feet and to capitalize on the things they did well on this season. 

For most of the season, it seemed like they almost had it but were just unable to get to exactly where they wanted to be.

If they work on capitalizing on the shots and corner attempts they have in matches, the Panthers have a chance to do exceptionally well next season.

The Panthers had some highlights throughout their season. 

EIU goalkeeper Daniela Bermeo had the second-best goals against average (0.81) and had the second-best in least number of goals allowed with 13.

Bermeo also tied for third in shutouts with six. Bermeo was in fifth place for her 0.822 save percentage and seventh for her 60 total saves.

Midfielder Jenna Little tied for third in the OVC with shots with 38 and was number one in shots per game with 2.57. 

She was able to put up four goals for the Panthers which put her in a tie for fifth place for most during the season. 

Her four goals put her in sixth place in goals per game.

1. Tennessee Tech (7-4-5 5-0-3 OVC)

2. SIUE (6-5-4, 5-1-2 OVC)

3. Southeast Missouri (8-6-2, 4-2-2 OVC)

4. Morehead State (7-6-3, 4-2-2 OVC)

5. Lindenwood (5-7-5, 2-2-4 OVC)

6. Little Rock (5-6-5, 2-3-3 OVC)

7. Southern Indiana (5-7-4, 1-5-2 OVC)

8. UT Martin (3-9-4, 1-5-3 OVC)

9. Eastern (2-6-8, 0-4-4, OVC)

The first round of the OVC Tournament will take place this Friday.

The Lions and the Screaming Eagles will face off in the first round.

The Trojans and the Skyhawks will also face off the in the first round.

The winner of the Lions and Screaming Eagles game will take on the Redhawks in the quarterfinals while the other winner will take on the Eagles in the quarterfinals. 

The winners of the quarterfinals will take on the Golden Eagles or the Cougars.

The OVC Tournament Champion will be decided on Sunday, Nov. 6

Kate Stevens can be reached in 581-2812 or [email protected]