By: Chris Wells, EKUSports Intern

The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team returns home to open Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend, hosting SIUE on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and Eastern Illinois on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.EKU (4-4) lost both games of last weekend's road trip at Gardner-Webb (2-1) and No. 24 Louisville (5-1).scored her second goal in as many games when she put one in the back of the net in the eighth minute against Garder-Webb.Idayls Rea andare ranked third in the conference with three goals on the year.ranks second in the league in assists (three).Freshman goalkeeperis tied for second in the conference with two shutouts this season.andlogged 180 minutes last weekend on the backline, never coming off the field in the two games.SIUE (1-4) lost, 5-0, to Illinois on September 2. The Cougars' game against Missouri State on September 7 was cancelled due to weather.EKU beat SIUE, 3-2, during the regular season last year before knocking them off in the Ohio Valley Conference quarterfinals, 2-1, in Richmond.The Cougars are led by freshman Amanda DiNardo, who has two goals on the year and four total points.The all-time series between EKU and SIUE is tied at 6-6-1.Eastern Illinois (1-4-2) lost to Indiana State, 3-1, on September 7 and to Northern Illinois, 2-0, on September 9.The Colonels defeated the Panthers last year on the road, 2-0.Sarah DeWolf leads the way for the Panthers with two goals and one assist on the year.The all-time series between EKU and EIU is tied at 7-7-0.Following this weekend's two home games, the Colonels finish out their home-stand against Morehead State on Sunday, September 23.