The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

Sophomore Forward Casey Welage tries to steal the soccerball from Lindenwood Lions defender at Lakeside Field Thursday afternoon.

EIU sees improvements in Oakley’s second year

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor November 13, 2023

Eastern men’s soccer showed an improvement in Head Coach Josh Oakley’s second season with the team. They improved from 1-12-3 to 4-10-5, which is their best since 2019, and their conference...

Sam Eccles, a senior forward (9) attempts to steal the ball from senior Incarnate word midfielder Luis Zuniga (8) during their OVC semifinals tournament held at Ralph Korte Stadium wednesday evening.

Eastern ends season on a 1-0 loss to UIW

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor November 8, 2023

Eastern men’s soccer season ends with a 1-0 loss to the Incarnate Word Cardinals. The Cardinals’ lone goal came from sophomore forward Sello Diphoko off of an assist from junior defender Will...

Freshman defender Jake McConnery prepares for a shot.

The Panthers prepare for second round of the OVC tournament

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor November 7, 2023

Eastern men's soccer will be playing in the second round of a conference tournament for the first time since 2007. “Preseason polls, everyone’s saying, ‘Oh we’re not supposed to be here,...

Forward Casey Welage (8) and midfielder Jake Pollock (25) chase after the ball at mens soccer practice at Lakeside Field on Thursday.

Eastern wins OVC tournament game

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor November 5, 2023

Eastern men’s soccer won a game in a conference tournament for the first time since 2007 where it beat Drake University in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Panthers won 3-1 on penalties...

Forward Jeffery Rinker II (11) and midfielder Felipe Kerr Lourenco (6) at mens soccer practice Lakeside Field on Thursday.

“I think they’re all very excited and ready to go,” Oakley says ahead of conference tournament game

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor November 1, 2023

The Eastern men’s soccer team will be playing in a conference tournament for the first time since 2018 when it was in the Summit League. “Our biggest objective of the year was to play in November,”...

Maxwell Allen, a fifth year senior defender (15), dribbles the ball away from University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles during their game at Lakeside field thursday afternoon. Maxwell scored the last goal in the second half to put the panthers over the screaming eagles. Panthers won 1-0.

Panthers of the Week: Maxwell Allen, Chad Smith

Zaria Flippin, Sports Editor October 29, 2023

The first Panther of the Week is going to Maxwell Allen from the men’s soccer team. The fifth-year defender from Indianapolis scored the lone goal to give the Panthers a win over the Southern Indiana...

Sam Eccles, a senior forward (9), dribbles the ball pass defender during their game against University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles at Lakeside field thursday afternoon.

Eastern able to get last minute victory against Southern Indiana

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 26, 2023

The Panthers pulled off another last-minute win to beat the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 1-0. Eastern's goal came going into the 87th minute when senior forward Sam Eccles took the ball to...

Senior forward Julian Smith tries to get past freshman forward Jeffery Rinker II.

Eastern hopes to hold on to playoff spot going into final two games

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 25, 2023

The Panthers are in the middle of a close race to make the Ohio Valley Conference championship tournament. Eastern is sixth out of eight in the OVC with eight points but is tied with Chicago State....

Number 1, Chad Smith (right), a sophomore goalkeeper, catches the ball mid-air after a close shot by number 28 Marco Presta (left), a freshman defender, during the mens soccer game at Lakeside Field Saturday morning. Smith had 6 saves and allowed 1 goal. The Panthers tied 1-1 against the Leathernecks.

Eastern ties Chicago State in second shutout of the season

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 15, 2023

The Panthers posted a shutout for the first time since their first game on August 28 against Governors State where they won 1-0, except this time they tied 0-0 against the Chicago State University...

Adrian Lechuga, a sophomore digital media technology major, watches as a player from Bellarmine gets substituted onto the field at Lakeside Field Saturday afternoon

Eastern shutout in loss to Liberty

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 12, 2023

The Panthers allowed four goals in their third straight game in a 4-0 loss to the Liberty University Flames. “We’re still stuck in Texas,” Head Coach Josh Oakley said. “Allow[ing] a goal...

Freshman defender Lance Somerfield dribbles past senior midfielder Jesse da Costa.

Eastern hopes to bounce back against Liberty

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 11, 2023

Eastern men’s soccer is looking to bounce back this Thursday against the Liberty University Flames after an unsuccessful road trip to Texas. The Panthers lost both games of their road trip 4-2...

Senior forward Sam Eccles looks to recieve ball on Tuesday night Oct. 4th, 2023, at OBrien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston Ill.

Sam Eccles: From England to Hofstra to Eastern

Luther Yoder, Assistant Sports Editor October 8, 2023

Sam Eccles, a senior forward for Eastern’s men’s soccer team, grew up in Sheffield, England. He played golf and track and field growing up, but he said by the time he was 11 he selected soccer...

Load More Stories