SIUE (11-0-3, 6-0-1 OVC) vs. Southern Indiana (1-10-3, 0-4-3 OVC)
Sun, Oct. 22, 5:00 p.m.
Ralph Korte Stadium / Bob Guelker Field 
Edwardsville, Illinois

OPENING ACT: SIUE is unbeaten through its first 14 games. It is the best start to a season since the 1997 team began 15-0-1. SIUE is one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the NCAA. The Cougars' .893 winning percentage trails only Marshall (.923) in the NCAA. 

TITLE TOWN: With a win, SIUE will clinch the regular season Ohio Valley Conference championship in the league's inaugural season. 

GOALS, GOALS, GOALS: The Cougars are No. 6 in the NCAA in total goals with 32, which leads the OVC. The six goals Sept. 28 at Southern Indiana were the most in a game for the Cougars since a 7-0 win against Saint Joseph's in 2006. 

DE-FENCE: SIUE also boasts the top defense in the OVC. It's team goals against average of 0.64 ranks ninth in the NCAA. The Cougars' goal differential is +23, which is third in the NCAA.

TAKE YOUR SHOT: SIUE unleashed a season-high 26 total shots Sep. 22 against Webster. It marked the most shots in a game since a 2016 game against Central Arkansas (29). Sept. 28 at Southern Indiana, SIUE put a season-best 17 shots on goal. 

THE SERIES: Sunday night marks the 19th meeting all-time between SIUE and USI. The two teams met 11 times as members of the GLVC. This is the first meeting as OVC members. SIUE has a 14-3-1 advantage in the series. The Cougars have won seven straight in the series and outscored the Screaming Eagles 11-1 in the last two meetings.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: SIUE swept the OVC weekly awards. Jake Karolczak won his first Offensive Player award, Will Harris won his second Defensive Player award and Sam Gomez was named Goalkeeper of the Week for the sixth time this year. Aaron Crabtree (Defensive), Wes Gibson (Defensive) and Mitchell Murphy (2x Offensive), also have earned OVC awards. Gomez was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's national Team of the Week (9/4). Nic Muench was named to CollegeSoccerNews.com's national Team of the Week (9/4). 

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Gomez returns as the No. 1 goalkeeper after splitting time last season. He leads the OVC with a 0.64 goals against average, which ranks 11th in the NCAA. He also leads the league with an .855 save percentage, which ranks fourth nationally.