Spring Break
Trying to bounce back
Dan Cusack/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Sports
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Eastern will look to rebound with its first conference victory Missouri State after a last-second loss to Creighton Saturday.
Eastern will try to be as successful as last season, when the Panthers rebounded after losing to Missouri State 2-0 in the regular season to defeat the Bears in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament 3-1.
"The first game, we were very unlucky," senior midfielder Mick Galeski said. "We had two shots hit the top crossbar. If those would have went in, we would have been cruising 2-0."
Galeski said the Panthers were more successful the second game because of more consistent play.
"In the second game, we finished," Galeski said. "We took advantage of our chances and played solid throughout."
The Panthers (8-3-2, 0-1-1) will host Missouri State (4-7-1, 0-0-1) at 3 p.m. at Lakeside Field. The meeting will be the 17th meeting between the two schools, with the Bears holding a 13-3 advantage.
Missouri State will be much similar to the team the Panthers defeated last season in the conference tournament.
"I know they lost one key forward," Galeski said. "But they have one of the top goalkeepers in the conference, so it will be tough to score goals."
The Bears boast senior goalkeeper Lance Parker, who leads the league in saves and save percentage. Parker has made 91 saves this season and gave up 14 goals (.867 saving percentage). Parker was a preseason MVC pick.
The Panthers will look to rebound after a heartbreaking loss to Creighton, when the Bluejays scored a goal in the final second to beat the Panthers in two overtimes.
Sophomore defender Chris Pearson scored his first collegiate goal last season in the victory against MSU. He will be playing his second match after injuring his ankle against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Pearson looks to spring back with extended minutes and said the loss to Creighton has motivated this team.
"Our goal now is to win out," Pearson said. "We feel cheated by the Creighton game and want to prove a point."
Eastern head coach Adam Howarth is impressed by MSU, but said he thinks the loss has made his team more focused and ready to play.
"The match should be very hard," Howarth said. "Missouri State is always a fit and organized team. That loss against Creighton was a tough one, but I think our guys are focused and ready to play. We want to go out and make a statement to the rest of the league."
Galeski said he is motivated to get on the field after the Creighton loss.
"They just ranked Creighton the No. 10 team nationally after we outplayed them," Galeski said. "This whole time, we just want to play them again, and that starts Wednesday and continues on to Saturday to the rest of the season."
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