SIUE Cougars (1-8-0, 0-2-0 OVC) vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (1-5-2, 0-1-1 OVC)
Sun., Oct. 5, 1:00 PM
Bob Guelker Field / Ralph Korte Stadium, Edwardsville, Illinois

LAST TIME: SIUE opened the week with a 1-0 loss at Western Illinois. The Leathernecks scored the only goal of the game in the 80th minute. 

THIS WEEK: The Cougars are finishing their first two-game week of the Ohio Valley Conference season and are back at home for a Sunday game against Eastern Illinois at Korte Stadium.

ROAD WARRIORS: After today, SIUE plays its next two games away from Edwardsville. 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Howard was named as the OVC Player of the Week 9/2 after he scored in each of SIUE's games in Colorado.

RANK AND FILE: SIUE has faced two ranked opponents so far this season, dropping 2-1 games on the road at No. 21 Denver and No. 16 Saint Louis.

THE SERIES: The Cougars and Panthers have faced off 34 previous times in men's soccer in a series that dates back to 1968. The OVC marks the third different conference that SIUE and Eastern Illinois have shared. The Cougars have won eight in a row in the series.  

SCORING: Evan Howard is tied for second in the OVC with five goals this year. He is one of just three goals scorers thus far for the Cougars. SIUE lost its seven top scorers and eight of the top 10 after last season. The Cougars opened the season with just four goal scorers from a season ago representing six of 30 goals (20 percent) scored in 2024. Returners account for just 18 percent (15 of 85) of total points scored in 2024.

GOT 'EM CORNERED: SIUE leads the OVC and ranks 75th in the NCAA in corner kicks per game at 5.11.

AT THE HELM: Two-time OVC Coach of the Year Cale Wassermann is in his seventh season in charge of the Cougars, and his 12th overall as a head coach. He has a record of 53-43-14 (.545) in six full seasons at SIUE. He is third all-time in wins at SIUE.