Eastern Illinois Women鈥檚 Soccer kicks off its 2026 season with a home match against Valparaiso on August 13. This will be the Panthers' first home opener since 2022 and marks their fourth season opener against the Beacons, who won their last encounter 2-1. The team finished the previous season with an 8-8-3 overall record, showing significant improvement. Key players returning include Ella Kratochvil and Alex Tetteh, who earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors last year. Following the Valparaiso match, EIU will visit UIC on August 16.

By the Numbers
  • Eastern Illinois finished the last season with an 8-8-3 record, the most wins since 2007.
  • They had three first-team All-OVC selections, the most since 2004.
State of Play
  • The Panthers aim to end an 0-6-2 streak in season openers, last winning in 2017.
  • In the OVC preseason poll, EIU was picked to finish second with five first-place votes.
  • Four players earned All-OVC honors last season, including one named Goalkeeper of the Year.
What's Next

After the matches against Valparaiso and UIC, EIU will play one match during Week 2 against Purdue on August 23. The Panthers will aim to build on their recent success and improve their standing in the OVC.

Bottom Line

With key returning players and recent positive momentum, Eastern Illinois looks poised to make a statement in the 2026 season. A strong performance in the opener against Valparaiso could set a positive tone for the rest of the season.