Spring Break
Men's Soccer - Eastern begins first of four straight road matches
Dan Cusack/Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
The Eastern men's soccer team won its home opener on Aug. 31, 3-2 against Missouri-Kansas City. The next time the Panthers will play at Lakeside Field will be 20 days after their victory against the Kangaroos.
Eastern begins its string of four straight road games starting 3 p.m. today when the Panthers travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to play Western Michigan.
"It is great because of team bonding early in the season," Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said. "We get to spend some time together and build team unity."
Eastern assistant coach Dino Raso said early away matches benefit teams later in the year.
"I think getting used to the travel for younger guys is important when we have so many road games early," Raso said. "Once playoff time comes around and we have our conference tournament our guys are used to the travel."
The Panthers were 4-3-2 away from Lakeside Field last season, which is one reason senior goalkeeper Mark Hansen is not worried about the travel.
"The team is making improvements," Hansen said. "We have shown in the past we are good on the road, and hopefully we can continue that this season."
Hansen said playing on the road is easier sometimes than playing at home.
"Playing on the road has its advantages because you are more focused," Hansen said. "When you are on the road you do not have the distractions of college life. There are no classes, no social life. It is all about soccer."
Howarth said it has been getting more difficult to get teams to travel to Charleston because many top schools do not want to leave home.
This season the Panthers only have four home matches remaining on the schedule, including match-ups against Central Arkansas, Evansville, Creighton and a team to be announced.
The Panthers had one of their home matches taken away when former Missouri Valley Conference member Western Kentucky decided to disband its soccer program.
Next season the MVC will change to a double round robin format, so the Panthers will have 8 or 9 matches at home.
The Panthers first of two road match this weekend will be against Western Michigan, a team Raso said was very experienced.
"This is going to be a very evenly matched game," Raso said. "It is probably going to go the full 90 minutes. I am confident we have the players to get it done."
Howarth said the Mustangs were impressive in a 1-1 tie against Vermont and a 3-2 win against St. Francis (Pa.) last weekend.
"(Western Michigan) has some attacking flair to them.' Howarth said. "Hopefully we can put some pressure on their backs and we will see how we do."
In addition to a match against the Mustangs, the Panthers will also travel to play Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne at noon Sunday in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
Eastern begins its string of four straight road games starting 3 p.m. today when the Panthers travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to play Western Michigan.
"It is great because of team bonding early in the season," Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said. "We get to spend some time together and build team unity."
Eastern assistant coach Dino Raso said early away matches benefit teams later in the year.
"I think getting used to the travel for younger guys is important when we have so many road games early," Raso said. "Once playoff time comes around and we have our conference tournament our guys are used to the travel."
The Panthers were 4-3-2 away from Lakeside Field last season, which is one reason senior goalkeeper Mark Hansen is not worried about the travel.
"The team is making improvements," Hansen said. "We have shown in the past we are good on the road, and hopefully we can continue that this season."
Hansen said playing on the road is easier sometimes than playing at home.
"Playing on the road has its advantages because you are more focused," Hansen said. "When you are on the road you do not have the distractions of college life. There are no classes, no social life. It is all about soccer."
Howarth said it has been getting more difficult to get teams to travel to Charleston because many top schools do not want to leave home.
This season the Panthers only have four home matches remaining on the schedule, including match-ups against Central Arkansas, Evansville, Creighton and a team to be announced.
The Panthers had one of their home matches taken away when former Missouri Valley Conference member Western Kentucky decided to disband its soccer program.
Next season the MVC will change to a double round robin format, so the Panthers will have 8 or 9 matches at home.
The Panthers first of two road match this weekend will be against Western Michigan, a team Raso said was very experienced.
"This is going to be a very evenly matched game," Raso said. "It is probably going to go the full 90 minutes. I am confident we have the players to get it done."
Howarth said the Mustangs were impressive in a 1-1 tie against Vermont and a 3-2 win against St. Francis (Pa.) last weekend.
"(Western Michigan) has some attacking flair to them.' Howarth said. "Hopefully we can put some pressure on their backs and we will see how we do."
In addition to a match against the Mustangs, the Panthers will also travel to play Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne at noon Sunday in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
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