Mastodons Break Losing Streak with Crucial 1-0 Victory Over Eastern Illinois
Shane Anderson's heroics lift Fort Wayne to first win of season in defensive slugfest
FORT WAYNE, IN – Purdue University Fort Wayne finally found their breakthrough moment on Thursday evening at Home Stadium, defeating Eastern Illinois University 1-0 to claim their first victory of the 2025 season and snap a frustrating four-game winless streak to start the campaign.
Shane Anderson proved to be the hero for the Mastodons, netting the decisive goal while leading all players with six shots in an attacking midfield performance that showcased his relentless pressure on the Eastern Illinois defense. The victory moves Fort Wayne to 1-2-2 overall, providing much-needed momentum after a difficult start that had seen them concede 12 goals in their first four matches.
For Eastern Illinois, the defeat extends their struggles on the road, dropping them to 1-4-1 on the season despite entering the match coming off their lone victory of the campaign. The Panthers managed just nine shots compared to Fort Wayne's 15, with only three finding the target as goalkeeper Sep Habibi stood firm between the posts for the Mastodons.
The match's defining characteristic was Fort Wayne's attacking intensity, particularly through Anderson and forward Iann Topete, who combined for 10 of the team's 15 shots. Topete proved especially dangerous with four attempts and three shots on target, consistently testing Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Franco Barba throughout his 75 minutes on the pitch.
Eastern Illinois struggled to generate sustained attacking pressure, with midfielder Casey Welage providing their most consistent threat. Welage managed two shots, both on target, in his 75-minute performance, but the Panthers couldn't find the clinical edge needed to trouble Habibi, who recorded three saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The match took a crucial turn when Eastern Illinois defender Shuntaro Endo received his marching orders with a red card in the 74th minute, leaving the Panthers down to ten men for the final quarter-hour. The numerical disadvantage proved costly as Fort Wayne maintained control of proceedings while Eastern Illinois was forced into a more defensive posture.
Fort Wayne's tactical approach emphasized width and pace, with Marco Valencia and Jackson Liley providing attacking threats from different flanks. Valencia's 76-minute shift included two shots as he consistently stretched the Eastern Illinois defense, while Liley's 30-minute cameo featured a shot on target that kept Barba alert.
The Panthers' international contingent, featuring several Japanese players including Yuki Nakamura, Shion Hayashi, and Sho Toda, worked tirelessly in midfield and defense but couldn't generate the attacking spark needed to trouble a Fort Wayne defense that had been leaky in earlier matches.
Defensively, Fort Wayne showed marked improvement from their previous outings, with Andrew Hollenbach anchoring the backline for the full 90 minutes alongside Max Titterington, who played 72 minutes in a disciplined performance that limited Eastern Illinois to just three shots on target.
The victory provides Fort Wayne with crucial confidence as they continue their season, having finally converted their attacking opportunities into a result. For Eastern Illinois, the focus will be on regrouping quickly, with a challenging road trip to Northern Illinois University looming on August 31st.
Both teams entered the match with identical -9 goal differentials, highlighting the defensive struggles that have plagued each program's early season form. Fort Wayne's ability to keep a clean sheet while finding the back of the net suggests they may have turned a corner in their development under the new campaign.
Key Players
- Shane Anderson (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Match-winner with the decisive goal, led all players with 6 shots and 2 on target in an outstanding attacking midfield display - Iann Topete (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Constant threat with 4 shots and 3 on target, terrorized the Eastern Illinois defense for 75 minutes - Sep Habibi (Purdue Fort Wayne) - Solid goalkeeping performance with 3 saves to secure the clean sheet and first win of the season