CHARLESTON, Ill. – A late goal lifted SIUE men's soccer to a 1-0 win at Eastern Illinois Sunday, moving the Cougars to 2-0-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

SIUE remained unbeaten on the season at 7-0-2 and the Cougars have won three straight games. Eastern Illinois slipped to 2-5-2 and 1-1-0 in OVC play.

"This was a tough game today," SIUE Head Coach Cale Wassermann said. "We were in control, but just couldn't score there for a while. We could have used a little more efficiency to get a goal earlier."

The lone goal of the game came from a penalty kick. Ignacio Abeal Pou took the shot, scoring low and to the right of Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Whelan Joseph.

"I am happy for Nacho," Wassermann said. "He stepped up in a big moment."

The penalty was the seventh awarded to the Cougars in nine games played this season.

"We're pushing teams much more than we have in the past," Wassermann said. "We're inside the 18-yard box more than we have been in a while and you're forcing teams to scramble defensively.

"That play today developed from a well-designed set piece," Wassermann continued. "We pressed and pressed. The sustained pressure paid off."

SIUE outshot EIU 19-5. Cougars' goalkeeper Sam Gomez turned away both Panthers' shots on goal for his and the Cougars' fourth shutout of the year and second in a row to start the conference season.

"The clean sheet is big for us," Wassermann said. "Regardless of whether we play our best game or not, we're putting a big emphasis on keeping the ball out of the back of the net."

SIUE returns home to face Lindenwood Thursday night at Korte Stadium.