BOX SCORE

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Senior midfielder Laura Caldon's goal just two minutes before halftime proved to be the game-winner as the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team won its second straight OVC match, defeating Eastern Illinois on Friday night, 2-1. With the win, the Colonels improve to 4-7-2 (2-2 OVC) on the year.

“It definitely wasn’t a pretty win,” Caldon said. “But we’re glad to get it.”

Just five minutes into the match, EIU forward Pam Melinauskas received a cross and fired in a goal from the right post, giving the Panthers an early advantage.

The Colonel offense finally responded near the end of the first half. In the 39th minute, sophomore forward Alex Raich dribbled through EIU defenders and launched a shot into the top left corner of the goal, knotting the score at 1-1. After leading the Colonels with three goals last year, Friday’s score was her first of the season.

Just four minutes later, in the 43rd minute, Caldon received a pass from sophomore defender Gabriella Wolf and shot it past the Panther goalkeeper to give the Colonels a lead they would not relinquish. It was Caldon’s second goal of the year and her first career game-winner. Wolf now is tied for the team lead in assists with two.

In the second half, sophomore keeper Stephanie Lynch and the rest of the Colonel defense held the Panthers in check long enough to secure the victory for EKU. Lynch played all 90 minutes of the match, allowing just one goal and making five saves.

“It’s great to get a win,” Raich said. “But we’re going to forget about this game because we know nothing is going to come easy at this point. We have to keep battling.”

At 4-7-2, the Colonels are already tied for the most wins in a season in the program’s four year history. Another victory will make them the most successful team in EKU soccer history.

“We’re at a place we’ve never been in our history,” Lynch said. “And it’s really exciting to have a chance to do something EKU soccer has never done.”

The Colonels return to action on Sunday when they travel to face Southeast Missouri State. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.