SIUE (1-0-0, 0-0-0 OVC)  vs. Butler (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big East)
Sun., Aug. 27, 7 p.m.
Bob Guelker Field/Ralph Korte Stadium, Edwardsville, Illinois 

OPENING ACT: Tonight is the 16th home opener since the return to Division I. The Cougars are 7-7-1 in home openers in that time. SIUE has won five consecutive home openers dating back to 2018.

THIS SEASON: The Cougars return 13 letter winners, while also losing 9 letter winners. SIUE returns three of its four top scorers from a season ago, while losing leading scorer Pau Palacin (10 points). SIUE will have 12 players who are new to the roster, or who have not appeared in a game. 

YOU HAVE TO OVC-IT: SIUE is playing as an inaugural member of the Ohio Valley Conference. In March, the OVC announced the addition of men's soccer as the league's 19th Conference-sponsored sport. 2023 marks the first time since the Athletics Department tranisitioned to Division I that men's soccer has played in the same conference as SIUE's other sports. In total, 15 of SIUE's 16 programs are part of the OVC. The lone exception is wrestling, which competes in the Mid-American Conference. 

HOMEWARD BOUND: The first OVC Tournament will be played at SIUE's Korte Stadium Nov. 5-11.

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: SIUE earned 86 points and garnered four first-place votes in being picked second in the first OVC preseason poll. Liberty earned 88 points (eight first-place votes) and were picked as the preseason favorites. 

AT THE HELM: Head Coach Cale Wassermann is in his fifth season in charge of the Cougars. He is in his 10th season as a head coach. He has a career record of 64-52-25. 

SERIES STUFF: SIUE holds a 5-1-2 mark in the overall series with Butler. The Cougars last met in the opener of the 2020 season, which took place in Spring of 2021. SIUE eliminated Butler in penalty kicks in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.