Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Sports

Eastern men's soccer freshman forward Kyle Bullock approaches the ball during the team's 2-0 loss to Valparaiso Sept. 1, at Lakeside Field. Bullock and the Panthers struggled out of the games, failing to score a goal in their first three matches, but have since caught fire, going 2-0-1 in their last three matches and scoring four goals in the process. Bullock has been a key contributor in the success, notching his first career goal in the team's 2-0 victory over Stony Brook Friday. He also registered his first career assist in the team's 1-1 tie against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis Sunday.(Amir Prellberg/The Daily Eastern News)

Kyle Bullock scored his first career collegiate soccer goal in Friday's match against Stony Brook, and the Eastern men's soccer team was able to win by a score of 2-0.

Bullock said he was especially thankful to score his first career Eastern goal.

He also achieved his first career assist Sunday against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis.

"I've been kind of wondering when I was going to get my first career goal. I've had my chances, but I hadn't been able to put them away until last Friday," Bullock said. "I'm just glad that I got that first one out of the way, so now I can focus and relax and start putting away more goals."

The other goal for Eastern came from sophomore Jonathon Hinds, but this is not the first time these two teammates have scored goals in the same game. Hinds and Bullock both attended and played for the Champaign Centennial High School soccer team.

Bullock, a freshman, said the chance to play soccer with Hinds again, coupled with the opportunity to stay closer to home, were major reasons he decided to attend Eastern.

"I really didn't want to go too far from home (Champaign)," Bullock said. " I really liked the campus and on my official visit to EIU, I realized that the men's soccer team and coaching staff were going to be a good environment for myself."

Since arriving at Eastern, Bullock said he has been working especially hard with the soccer coaching staff before and after practice.

"I really have been trying to work on improving my left foot. I especially have been working on shooting and dribbling," Bullock said. " I also try to do juggling drills, where I juggle the ball once with my right foot and twice with my left foot. The drill helps with strengthening my foot."

In addition to his offensive development, Eastern head coach Adam Howarth believes one of Bullock's greatest assets is his speed on the playing field.

"(Bullock) is really blessed with great speed and good finishing ability in front of the goal," Howarth said. "He really has the ability to get behind defenses in every match and that gives us a chance to score."

Hinds said Bullock's quickness on the field continues to make him a dangerous threat for opposing defenses.

"(Bullock) really brings a different level of quickness on the field for the team," Hinds said. " He just brings an extra level of speed. Overall, I've really noticed that he has started to see the field a lot quicker."

Bullock's Panther team has seen a lot of the road so far this season, playing only one home game, its season opener against Valparaiso Sept. 1, which it lost 1-0.

After five-straight matches away from home, Bullock and the Panthers return to Lakeside Field Sunday when they host Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne at 1 p.m.

Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or jnschneider@eiu.edu.

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