SIUE (8-6-0, 5-2-0 OVC) at Belmont (8-6-1, 5-2-1 OVC)

Match Information
Date: Sunday, October 24, 2021
First Kick: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
All-Time Series (SIUE Streak): SIUE leads 4-2-4 (T1)
Last Meeting: Apr. 4, 2021 (SIUE 1, Belmont 1 [2OT])

WHERE WE'RE AT: The rematch of the 2019 OVC Championship final brings with it new tension, as the Bruins and Cougars are tied atop the OVC table with just one regular season match remaining. It also marks the final meeting between the two programs as members of the OVC, as Belmont is set to depart at the end of the current academic year. 

LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars played in front of their home crowd for the final time this regular season on Thursday, as SIUE welcomed Southeast Missouri to Korte Stadium and sent the Redhawks home with a 3-1 defeat. 

SCOUTING THE BRUINS: The Belmont Bruins enter the match sitting at 8-6-1 overall and 5-2 in OVC play. Belmont is coming off a 1-0 win at UT Martin on Thursday that saw the Bruins net the lone goal off a penalty kick. The Bruins were picked to finish fifth in the OVC and are led by OVC Preseason Player to Watch Rachel Vernon.

LOCAL FLAIR: Coach Burton has recruited and retained talented student-athletes from throughout the Metro East and Greater St. Louis regions. Of the 33 student-athletes on this season's roster, 21 hail from Greater St. Louis - this includes five who came to SIUE from a county in the Metro East region.

RETURNERS: The Cougars return all but two starters from last season's OVC champion squad, and bring back all three goalkeepers from Spring 2021. Highlighting the returning Cougars are OVC Forward of the Year MacKenzie Litzsinger, All-OVC and United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team selection Lily Schnieders, and OVC All-Newcomer selection Matea Diekema.

NEW FACES: The Red & White welcome eight newcomers to the program, six of whom hail from the Greater St. Louis area. Included in this class are sisters Ashlyn and Kaitlyn Nichols (O'Fallon, Mo.), who join Matea and Myah Diekema as the only known pair of sisters playing in the same Division I soccer program.

SEASON 40: SIUE plays its 40th season of intercollegiate women's soccer in 2021. Hundreds of student-athletes have donned the Red & White on the pitch, helping the Cougars become the winningest Division I women's soccer program in the state of Illinois and leading SIUE to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.