SIUE (5-4-0, 2-0-0 OVC) vs. UT Martin (7-4-1, 3-1-0 OVC)

Match Information
Date: Sunday, October 10, 2021
First Kick: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Korte Stadium, Edwardsville, Ill.
All-Time Series (SIUE Streak): Series tied 8-8 (W3)
Last Meeting: Apr. 15, 2021 (SIUE 2, UT Martin 0), 2020-21 OVC Semifinal

WHERE WE'RE AT: SIUE women's soccer enters Sunday's contest looking to continue an impressive run of offensive form, having netted four goals in their OVC opener at Tennessee Tech on Sep. 26 and five in their most recent match at Morehead State last Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars have opened up OVC play with one of the program's most impressive performances in the D-I era, posting nine goals in two matches. This does not include two goals scored in the first half of Thursday's match at Eastern Illinois on Thursday; however, those two goals do not count, as the match was abandoned due to weather and rescheduled for Oct. 19. Because the 70-minute treshhold was not reached, the match will be restarted from the beginning.

SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS: UT Martin stands as SIUE's most formidable conference opponent thus far, sitting at 3-1 in OVC play. The Skyhawks started the OVC season with wins over Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, and Southeast Missouri; however, UTM ran into trouble on Thursday, falling in a 2-1 decision vs. Tennessee Tech. The Skyhawks were picked to finish fourth in the OVC and are led by OVC Preseason Player to Watch Emily van der Vliet.

ACCOLADES: Bella Henderson becomes the second SIUE goalkeeper and fourth Cougar this season to win a conference-level award, as her shutout performance against Morehead State last Sunday earned her first-ever OVC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week honor.

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.