SIUE Cougars (0-1) at No. 24 Michigan State Spartans (2-0)
Thu., Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m.
DeMartin Soccer Complex
East Lansing, Mich.

FOR OPENERS: SIUE opened its 60th men's soccer season at Kansas City last Thursday night. It is the 19th since the return to Division I status. Since then, SIUE is now 7-7-5 in season openers. 

ROAD TRIPPING: This is SIUE's second of three straight road games. The Cougars will not play at home until Sep. 6.

RANK AND FILE: SIUE will play its second consecutive ranked opponent to start the season, after opening the season against No. 25 Kansas City. The Cougars are set to open the home season with eighth-ranked Saint Louis. 

THE SERIES: The Cougars and Spartans are meeting for the ninth time all-time. This marks the fifth meeting since SIUE returned to Division I play in 2008. Since that time, there have been three ties and one win by Michigan State. Two of those meetings came when current SIUE Head Coach Cale Wassermann was on staff at Michigan State, including a 1-1 tie in the first round of the 2016 NCAA tournament that saw SIUE advance to the second round on penalty kicks.

HIGH SCORING LOST: SIUE believed last year's leading scorer, Evan Howard would be allowed to return for a fifth season, and he played on opening night in Kansas City. When the 10th Circuit Court granted the NCAA a stay in the Wisne vs. NCAA case, Howard was no longer eligible. Howard was second in the OVC in scoring with 19 total point in 2025. He led OVC in goals scored with eight and points per game at 1.19. He accounted for 47 percent of SIUE's goals and 35 percent of its total scoring in 2025.

OTHER SCORING: Only four goal-scorers return for SIUE. Dominic Bartoni, Colin Bastianoni, Ryley Gibbs and Ben Perkins are the only returners who found the back of the net on 2025, with each scoring once. Returners Mathias Clausen and Ellito Forestier each recorded an assist last season.

SPANNING THE GLOBE: Ten different countries are represented on SIUE's 2026 roster. 

AT THE HELM: Two-time OVC Coach of the Year Cale Wassermann is in his eighth season in charge of the Cougars, and his 13th overall as a head coach. He has a record of 58-47-16 (.545) in seven seasons at SIUE. He is third all-time in wins at SIUE.