EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE sophomore defender Mathias Clausen (San Jose, Costa Rica) has been selected as SIUE's player to watch and the Cougars have been tabbed for a second-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference in a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information personnel.
Claussen appeared in 11 games as a freshman in 2025, starting nine. He added the assist on the Cougar's game-winning goal against Western Illinois Nov. 9.
The Cougars finished fourth in the OVC last season with a 4-4-2 league record after winning back-to-back regular season and tournament titles in the league's first two seasons.
Following an exhibition contest Saturday at Louisville, SIUE will open the regular season Thu., Aug. 20 at Kansas City.
2026 OVC Men's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (11 first-place votes) 94 points
2. HCU (2) 80
SIUE (3) 80
4. Eastern Illinois 52
5. UTRGV 46
6. UIW 42
7. Western Illinois 36
8. Southern Indiana 18 2026
OVC Men's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch
Conner Bayliss (CB, So.), Eastern Illinois
Ryan Okerayi (F, Sr.), HCU
Luca Bartoni (F, Sr.), Lindenwood
Mathias Clausen (D, So.), SIUE
Garrett Morris (MF, Fifth Year), Southern Indiana
Diego Robles (F, Jr.), UIW
Mouhamed Pouye (MF, Sr.), UTRGV
Xavier Gagnon (F, Sr.), Western Illinois
