SIUE (4-0-1, 0-0-0 OVC) at Bradley (4-0-2, 0-0-0 MVC)
Sat, Sep. 16, 7:00 p.m.
Shea Stadium, Peoria, Illinois

OPENING ACT: SIUE is unbeaten through its first five games for the first time since the 2018 season, when it also began the year 4-0-1.

RANK AND FILE: SIUE is receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll and also the College Soccer News poll. The Cougars landed at No. 18 in the Sept. 5 United Soccer Coaches poll, marking the first time SIUE had been nationally ranked in the poll since the Spring 2021 season, when it was No. 25 in March. The Cougars were featured in the College Soccer News poll in 2018.

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

SERIES STUFF: SIUE and Bradley have met 22 previous times with SIUE holding a slim 11-9-2 advantage in the series. The two teams have met 10 times as Conference foes in the Missouri Valley Conference. SIUE is 5-3-1 in the last nine meetings in the series. 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Mitchell Murphy (Offensive), Aaron Crabtree (Defensive), Will Harris (Defensive) and Sam Gomez (Goalkeeper, 2x) have earned Ohio Valley Conference players of the week this season. Gomez also 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 picked up his third career shutout Tuesday against Western Illinois. He leads the OVC with a 0.60 goals against average, which ranks 20th in the NCAA. He also leads the league with an .857 save percentage, which ranks 12th nationally. In eight games last year, Gomez finished with a 1.38 goals against average and a .645 save percentage.