SIUE Cougars (8-4-3, 6-1-1 OVC) at USI Screaming Eagles (2-12-2, 1-5-2 OVC)
Thu., Oct. 31, 6:00 p.m. 
Strassweg Field
Evansville, Indiana

LAST TIME: SIUE wrapped up the home schedule for the regular season, shutting out Western Illinois 3-0 Saturday at Korte Stadium. 

WHAT'S AT STAKE: With a win in one of its last two regular season games, the Cougars will clinch one of the top two spots in the OVC and a first-round OVC tournament bye. The OVC tournament will be held at SIUE's Korte Stadium for the second consecutive year. 

OVC-IT: SIUE is playing its second season of OVC men's soccer. The Cougars captured the first OVC Regular Season and Tournament titles in 2023 with a 9-0-1 record.

TITLE TOWN: The regular season title was the first OVC title for a men's program at SIUE in any sport.

BRONZE BOOT STAYING IN EDWARDSVILLE: SIUE's shutout of the Billikens Sep. 8 means the Bronze Boot stays in Edwardsville for a second consecutive year. It is the first time the Cougars have won back-to-back games in the series since wins in 1979 and 1980.

PENALTY BOX: SIUE is now 2-2 in penalty kicks. Yasha Schaerer (Saint Louis) and Nacho Abeal (at Lindenwood) have both converted. The Cougars were given a penalty nine times in 20 games last year. SIUE was eight for nine in penalty attempts with five different players scoring.

HOW MAY I ASSIST YOU: Yasha Schaerer assisted on all three goals in SIUE's 3-0 win over Eastern Illinois Oct. 3. It was the first time a Cougar had three assists in a game since 2006.

THE SERIES: SIUE and USI will meet for the second time this season. The Cougars won a 2-0 contest on Homecoming Oct. 3 and have won nine straight in the series.

AT THE HELM: 2023 OVC Coach of the Year Cale Wassermann is in his sixth season in charge of the Cougars, and his 11th overall as a head coach. He has a record of 48-33-14 (.574) in five seasons at SIUE. He currently is tied with Kevin Kalish (2008-13) for third in all-time wins at SIUE.

TAKE YOUR SHOT: SIUE recorded a season-high 27 shots at Lindenwood Oct. 10. It was the most shots in a game for the Cougars since they took 29 shots in a 2016 game against Central Arkansas. Of the Cougars' 180 total shots this season, 90 have been on goal and their .500 shot accuracy is second best in the OVC and No. 6 in the NCAA. 

BETWEEN THE PIPES: After the graduation of OVC Goalkeeper of the Year Sam Gomez, the Cougars have turned to grad transfer Rob Gjelaj. He appeared in 55 games making 53 starts over four seasons at Division II Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. He finished as the school's all-time saves leader with 319. Last season he was fourth in DII with 97 saves. Gjelaj leads the OVC with eight shutouts which ranks second in the NCAA. He is the league leader in save percentage (.831) which ranks third in the NCAA. He is second in the league in total saves and saves per game.