West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's men's soccer team faced a challenging match against Eastern Illinois University on Sunday, ending their undefeated home streak. The Panthers managed to secure a crucial victory, marking their first win in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2024.

Xavier Gagnon gave the Leathernecks an early advantage with a header in the sixth minute. Despite entering the game without a win for over two months, Eastern Illinois quickly regained momentum after this initial goal.

Eastern scored twice, first in the 14th minute and then again in the 28th minute, maintaining a 2-1 lead until the end of the match. Although Western Illinois outshot Eastern 21-12 and dominated corner kicks 8-1, they could not convert these opportunities into goals. The Panthers' defensive strategy proved effective in securing their victory.

Following this result, Western Illinois stands at 7-8-1 overall and 2-4 in conference play as they prepare for their next game against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) on Saturday.