SIUE (5-0-2, 0-0-0 OVC) at Southern Indiana (1-6-0, 0-0-0 OVC)
Thu, Sep. 28, 7:00 p.m.
Strassweg Field, Evansville, Indiana

OPENING ACT: SIUE is unbeaten through its first seven games for the first time since the return to Division I in 2008. SIUE is one of 11 unbeaten teams in the NCAA. 

RANK AND FILE: SIUE is receiving votes in this week's CollegeSoccerNews.com 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.

SHOOT FIRST: SIUE unleashed a season-high 26 shots Friday against Webster, it was the most shots in a game since a 2016 game against Central Arkansas. 

THE SERIES: Thursday night marks the 18th meeting all-time between SIUE and USI. The two teams met 11 times as members of the GLVC. This will mark the first meeting as OVC members. SIUE has a 13-3-1 advantage in the series. The Cougars have won six straight in the series and 12 of the past 14 meetings.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Wes Gibson was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week Monday. He became the fifth Cougar to win an OVC weekly award. Sam Gomez (Goalkeeper 3X), Mitchell Murphy (Offensive), Aaron Crabtree (Defensive), Will Harris (Defensive) have earned OVC 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 against Western Illinois. He leads the OVC with a 0.71 goals against average, which ranks 23rd in the NCAA. He also leads the league with an .828 save percentage, which ranks 16th nationally. In eight games last year, Gomez finished with a 1.38 goals against average and a .645 save percentage. 

PENALTY BOX: The Cougars have been awarded a penalty in four of seven games this year. SIUE is 4-0 in penalty attempts with three different players scoring.