SIUE Cougars (3-4-1, 1-0 OVC) vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks (3-4-2, 1-0 OVC)
Thu., Oct. 1, 6 p.m.
Bob Guelker Field / Ralph Korte Stadium
Edwardsville, Illinois

LAST TIME: SIUE delighted a Homecoming crowd of 2,766 with a 3-1 win over Southern Indiana Saturday night at Korte Stadium.

HOME COOKING: Thursday's game with Western Illinois marks the fourth of a four-game home stand. The Cougars are 3-0-1 at home this year. SIUE has scored six goals over the last two home games and has scored eight goals in four home games this year. Since the start of the 2023 season, SIUE is 23-6-3 at Korte Stadium. 

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. 11). SIUE opened the season against No. 25 Kansas City (now No. 8). SLU had been ranked among the top 10 for the first two weeks this season. 

THE SERIES: The SIUE/WIU series stretches back to 1972. SIUE has an overall lead in the series of 16-11-3. The Cougars are 6-4 in home games in the series. The two teams have met more on a neutral field than they have at either one's home field. 

BRONZE BOOT BACK IN EDWARDSVILLE: SIUE opened the home season with its first win of the year, defeating Saint Louis 1-0 Sep. 6. The win brought the Bronze Boot back to Edwardsville after Ryley Gibbs' header in the 37th minute lifted the Cougars to the win over the rival Billikens. 

SCORING: SIUE has had six total goal scorers this year, and four different scorers accounted for the six goals over the last two games. Only four goal-scorers returned from 2025. Dominic Bartoni, Colin Bastianoni, Ryley Gibbs and Ben Perkins are the only returners who found the back of the net, with each scoring once.