Western Illinois (2-3-1) is looking to win its second match in as many games after a 3-1 victory over St. Ambrose this past Sunday. The Leathernecks defeated Eastern Illinois 2-0 last season.

The Match
Who: Western Illinois (2-3-1) vs. Eastern Illinois (3-3-3)
When: Thursday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m.
Location: Charleston, Ill.
Stadium: Lakeside Field (1,000)

Coverage

Live Stats (free)

Scouting Report

Scouting the Panthers

Eastern Illinois is coming off a 2-2 tie against Green Bay its last time out. The Panthers have recorded wins over IUPUI, Northern Iowa and Cleveland State this season. The team has already matched its win total from the 2008 season, when the Panthers finished 3-14-2.

Eastern is led by former Western Illinois goalkeeper and first year head coach Summer Perala. Perala played for the Leathernecks from 1998-2001 and holds school records for career wins, shutouts and saves at Western. Perala was named as the head coach of the Panthers after six years as an assistant at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Offensively, the Panthers are lead by senior forward Rachel Hamilton who has tallied seven points on three goals and one assist this season. Hamilton has scored a goal in three of the team's last four matches. She finished tied for third on the team last year with four points on the season. The Panthers have a total of four players with multiple goals on the season including Hamilton (3), Ashley Streid (3), Kristin Germann (2) and Alexis Miller (2). Eastern Illinois has scored 11 goals through nine matches this season after scoring just nine goals in 2008.

On defense, Eastern is led by junior goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert who is 3-3-3 this season and has recorded a 0.98 goals against average and a .866 save percentage. Lorbert has recorded shutouts against IUPUI and Northern Iowa this season. Last season, Lorbert appeared in 11 matches for the Panthers, including 10 starts. She finished the season 2-4-2 and recorded a 1.25 goals against average and a .847 save percentage. Lorbert was named as the Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week twice in 2008.

Match Notes

Closing in on a Record

Offense Gets Rolling

After scoring just four goals in its first five matches this season, Western Illinois scored three goals in a 3-1 victory over St. Ambrose on Sept. 20. All of the goals came in the first eight minutes of the match. Jill Kevorkian tallied two of the goals and Courtney Bresnahan had the other. Kevorkian leads the team with seven points this season while Bresnahan is second on the team with five.

Series History

Western Illinois is 4-7-1 all-time against Eastern Illinois. The Leathernecks notched a 2-0 home victory over the Panthers last season. Western Illinois has won three of the past four meetings against Eastern including back-to-back 1-0 wins in 2005 and 2006 and a 2-2 tie in 2007.

Next Up

The Leathernecks will return home for a 1 p.m. match against Grand View, Saturday, Sept. 26 before opening Summit League play at home against IUPUI at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3.