NOTE: Due to the extreme heat forecasted for Sunday, the SIUE-Valparaiso women's soccer match has been move to a 10 a.m. start at Korte Stadium.

SIUE Cougars (1-0, 0-0 Ohio Valley)
vs. Valparaiso Beacons (0-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley)
Sun., Aug. 16, 10:00 AM CT
Korte Stadium / Bob Guelker Field
Edwardsville, Ill.
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=666030
Live Video: ESPN+

SIUE Cougars
Head Coach: Derek Burton
Goals P/G:    2.00
Goals Allowed P/G:    1.00
Shots/Opponent Shots:    13/10
Shots Per Game/Opponent:    13.0/10.0
Shots Percentage/Opponent:    .154/.100
Shots On Goal/Opponent:    9-13/4-10
Shots On Goal Perc./Opponent:     .692/.400
Goals Leaders:    Two Tied (1)
Assists Leader:    Claire Nieroda (1)
Shots Leader:    Claire Nieroda (4)
Saves Leader:     Sarah Bozeman (3)

Valparaiso Beacons
Head Coach: John Marovich
Goals P/G:    0.00
Goals Allowed P/G:    2.00
Shots/Opponent Shots:    8/9
Shots Per Game/Opponent:    8.0/9.0
Shots Percentage/Opponent:      .000/.222
Shots On Goal/Opponent:    6-8/3-9
Shots On Goal Perc./Opponent:     .750/.333
Goals Leaders:    None
Assists Leader:    None
Shots Leader:    Kiara Desiderio/Brylie Walos (2)
Saves Leaders:    Adria Schultz (2)

A WIN IN THE BOOKS: SIUE opened the 2026 season with a 2-1 victory Wednesday at Alabama A&M. It is the second straight season that SIUE has won its season opener having defeated IU Indy last season in Indianapolis. SIUE is now 26-15-4 in season openers.
EARLY BIRDS: The Aug. 12 start date to the season is the earliest start date in program history.
HOME OPENERS: SIUE is 28-14-2 in home openers all-time. Last season, Omaha edged the Cougars 2-1 at Korte Stadium.
FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON: Claire Nieroda scored SIUE's first goal of the season. It was on a penalty kick at 41:53 of the first half. SIUE missed its one and only penalty kick attempt last season.
FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL: Carson Bohnenstiehl recorded her first collegiate goal and a game-winning goal with her score at 52:25 against Alabama A&M. Bohnenstiehl is a transfer from Southeast Missouri, where she collected two assists last season.
MORE NIERODA: Nieroda also recorded an assist on the game-winning goal and is the leader in scoring with three points. She also posted a team-leading four shots in Wednesday's win.
MORE SHOTS: MaryClaire Imig and Bohnenstiehl were just behind Nieroda in shots with three.
OVC PLAYERS TO WATCH: Before the season, SIUE was selected to finish fifth in the OVC preseason poll. SIUE goalkeeper Sarah Bozeman and forward Tori Bockstadter were named OVC Players to Watch.
HEAD COACH DEREK BURTON: Burton is in his 19th season and has coached every game that SIUE has played at the NCAA Division I level.