SIUE (2-0-0, 0-0-0 OVC)  vs. No. 15 Saint Louis (1-1-0, 0-0-0 A10)
Sat., Sep. 2, 7:30 p.m.
CITYPARK, St. Louis, Missouri
Live stats: SIUEStats.com
Radio: 550 KTRS AM (Bob Ramsey, Mike Smallwood)
Live video: ESPN+ (Dan Bettlach, Joe Pott, Bill McDermott)

OPENING ACT: Sunday marked the 16th home opener since the return to Division I. The Cougars are 8-7-1 in home openers in that time. The win over Butler was SIUE's sixth consecutive home opener win.

THIS SEASON: The Cougars return 13 letter winners, while 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. 

BRONZE BOOT BACK IN ST. LOUIS: One of the most storied rivalries in college soccer returns to downton St. Louis Satuday night. The Bronze Boot game was re-established in 2018. That year marked the first regular season meeting since 1995. Regularly a well-attended game, the meeting was held at Busch Stadium II from 1972-1986. The largest crowd in NCAA history was a Bronze Boot affair, when 22,512 saw the Billikens and Cougars play at Busch Stadium on Oct. 30, 1980. The Billikens own a 27-9-3 advantage in the overall series, including a 23-5-3 lead in the Bronze Boot series. 

AT THE HELM: Head Coach Cale Wassermann is in his fifth season in charge of the Cougars, and his 10th as a head coach. He has an overall career record of 65-52-25. 

RANK AND FILE: SIUE is ranked No. 6 in this week's United Soccer Coaches North Region poll.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Aaron Crabtree (Defensive) and Sam Gomez (Goalkeeper) were named as two of the first-ever Ohio Valley Conference men's soccer players of the week Tuesday.

BETWEEN THE PIPES: Gomez returns as the No. 1 goalkeeper after splitting time last season. In eight games last year, Gomez finished with a 1.38 goals against average and a .645 save percentage. He has nine saves and an .818 save percentage in the two wins.