CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois defeated Southern Indiana 2-0 on Sunday. The match, played at Lakeside Field, saw Eastern Illinois extend their winning streak to two games in front of an unrecorded attendance. Eastern Illinois now stands at 3-7-3 overall, while Southern Indiana drops to 2-8-4.
Eastern Illinois secured the victory with two goals. Adam Boykin opened the scoring in the 20th minute, assisted by Cland Iwasaki and Manuel Cordeiro. Fabricio Roberti added the second goal in the 87th minute, solidifying Eastern Illinois's lead and ultimately sealing the win.
The first half saw Eastern Illinois create several scoring opportunities. Gui Gragnano had a shot in the 4th minute. Casey Welage followed with a shot in the 9th minute. Adam Boykin had multiple attempts in the 11th, 17th, and 20th minutes. Southern Indiana struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure, relying on throw-ins and corners to advance the ball. Edin Cvorovic received a yellow card in the 26th minute for unsporting conduct. Eastern Illinois maintained possession and controlled the tempo for much of the first half, resulting in a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Eastern Illinois continued to press in the second half, with Shion Hayashi and Shuntaro Endo getting involved in the attack. Southern Indiana attempted to respond with substitutions, bringing in fresh legs to try and shift the momentum. Sam McConnell received a yellow card in the 61st minute. Eastern Illinois maintained their defensive shape, limiting Southern Indiana's chances. Fabricio Roberti's late goal in the 87th minute secured the victory for Eastern Illinois. Ian Graham received a yellow card in the 82nd minute.
Eastern Illinois outshot Southern Indiana 15-8, with 11 shots on goal compared to Southern Indiana's two. Eastern Illinois also earned seven corner kicks, while Southern Indiana had one. Southern Indiana committed three yellow cards, while Eastern Illinois received none. Eastern Illinois's goalkeeper recorded two saves, while Southern Indiana's goalkeeper made nine saves.
Adam Boykin led the attack for Eastern Illinois, with multiple shots and the opening goal. Gui Gragnano also contributed with several shots. Eastern Illinois's goalkeeper, made two crucial saves to preserve the shutout. For Southern Indiana, David Davila had a shot in the 19th minute and another blocked in the 44th minute. Edin Cvorovic had a shot in the 45th minute. Southern Indiana's goalkeeper, made nine saves, keeping the game within reach until the late stages.
Eastern Illinois employed a high-pressing strategy, aiming to win the ball back quickly in Southern Indiana's half. Southern Indiana focused on a more defensive approach, attempting to absorb pressure and counter-attack. Eastern Illinois's tactical approach proved more effective, allowing them to control possession and create more scoring opportunities. Southern Indiana struggled to break down Eastern Illinois's defense and generate consistent offensive threats.
This result marks a positive step for Eastern Illinois, extending their winning streak and improving their overall record to 3-7-3. The win demonstrates their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and maintain a solid defensive structure. For Southern Indiana, the loss continues their struggles, highlighting the need to improve their offensive output and defensive resilience. Their record now stands at 2-8-4.
The decisive moments in the match were Adam Boykin's opening goal in the 20th minute, which gave Eastern Illinois the lead and momentum, and Fabricio Roberti's late goal in the 87th minute, which sealed the victory. Eastern Illinois's ability to control possession and create scoring chances proved to be the difference, while Southern Indiana's defensive struggles and lack of offensive firepower ultimately led to their defeat. Eastern Illinois will face Western Illinois on Oct. 25, 2025, while Southern Indiana will play Lindenwood on the same day.