SIUE Cougars (9-4-3, 7-1-1 OVC) at Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-11-2, 1-7-1 OVC)
Sun., Nov. 3, 1:00 p.m. 
Lakeside Field
Charleston, Illinois

LAST TIME: SIUE wrapped up the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title with a 2-1 comeback win Thursday at Southern Indiana. Jake Karolczak and Stephan Moreira each scored their first goals of the year in the win.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: SIUE has already clinced the regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming OVC Tournament. Eastern Illinois still has a shot at the sixth and final spot.

OVC-IT: The season marks the second season of OVC men's soccer. The Cougars have now won both regular season championships

TITLE TOWN: The 2023 regular season title was the first OVC title for a men's program in any sport at SIUE.

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.

PENALTY BOX: SIUE is now 2-3 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.

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 49-33-14 (.577) in five seasons at SIUE. With Thursday's win he is now third all-time in wins at SIUE.  

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.

TAKE YOUR SHOT: Thursday's 23 shots were the second most in a game this year. The Cougars 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. SIUE's .502 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 second in the league in save percentage (.827) which ranks seventh in the NCAA. He is the league leader in total saves and is second in the OVC in saves per game.