SIUE Cougars (7-6-2, 5-2-1 OVC) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (4-9-3, 2-5-1 OVC)
Thu., Oct. 29, 3 p.m.
John A. Mackenzie Soccer Field
Macomb, Illinois

LAST TIME: The Cougars scored three first-half goals on their way to a 3-1 win at Southern Indiana Saturday night. For the second game in a row, SIUE was on the board in the game's first seven minutes.

TOP OF THE TABLE: With two games to play in the regular season, SIUE is one point clear of the rest of the league. The Cougars will clinch a first round bye in the OVC Tournament with a single point in the game. 

ROAD TRIPPING: After dropping their first five games on the road, the Cougars are 2-0-1 in their last three road games. 

RANK AND FILE: SIUE faced a pair of ranked opponent to start the season. The Cougars dropped an August 29 contest to 24th-ranked Michigan State (now No. 8). SIUE opened the season against No. 25 Kansas City (now No. 5). SLU had been ranked among the top 10 for the first two weeks this season. 

THE SERIES: This is the second meeting of the season between SIUE and WIU. The Cougars took the first contest 1-0 at SIUE back on October 1. SIUE has won the last two in the series, but have only two wins in six meetings in Macomb, Illinois.

SQUAD GOALS: SIUE has now had 10 total goal scorers this year, with Ryley Gibbs leading the charge. He is third in the OVC with seven goals. Only four goal-scorers returned from 2025. Dominic Bartoni, Colin Bastianoni, Gibbs and Ben Perkins are the only returners who found the back of the net, with each scoring once.