SIUE (0-0-1) at Ohio State (1-0-1)
Thu, August 29, 7:00 p.m. CT
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Live stats: ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sidearmstats/msoc/
Live video: BigTen+ (Connor Schuh, Tyler Danburg)
LAST SEASON: SIUE finished the season 16-1-3 and went undefeated in its first 19 games. The Cougars won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament first and made their 24th NCAA Tournament appearance. SIUE’s .850 winning percentage was the best in Division I.
RANKINGS: The Cougars are currently unranked. SIUE began the year ranked No. 25 in the preseason Top Drawer Soccer poll.
AM HELM: OVC Coach of the Year 2023 Cale Wasserman is in his sixth season as coach of the Cougars and his 11th overall as head coach. In five seasons at SIUE, he has a record of 40-30-12.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT WINNING: SIUE’s 16 wins in 2023 were the most in a season for a Cougar team since returning to Division I.
TITLE CITY: The regular season title was the first OVC title for a SIUE men’s program in any sport.
HIT!: SIUE returns its top four scorers from last year, including the OVC’s all-time goal leader. Pavel Dashin (9 goals, 19 points), OVC Striker of the Year Stephan Moreira (17 points) OVC Tournament MVP Nacho Abeal (14 points) and Jake Karolczak (13 points). Overall, the Cougars score 62 percent of their points back.
ROSTER GOALS: The Cougars finished sixth in the NCAA last season with 45 total goals. They scored six goals at Southern Indiana on Sept. 28, the most in a game for the Cougars since a 7-0 win over Saint Joseph’s in 2006.
DEFENSE: SIUE also had one of the best defenses in the country. Its goals-against average of 0.60 was second-best in the NCAA. The Cougars’ goal differential was +33, fifth-best in the NCAA. SIUE only allowed more than one goal in a game twice last season.
TRY YOUR SHOT: SIUE fired a season-high 26 shots against Webster last year. That was the most shots in a game since the 2016 game against Central Arkansas (29). On Sept. 28 at Southern Indiana, SIUE fired a season-high 17 shots on goal.
THE SERIES: The Cougars and Buckeyes have only met twice, both times since SIUE returned to Division I. SIUE won the last meeting 3-2 in Columbus.
BETWEEN THE POSTS: After the graduation of the OVC Goalkeeper of the Year Sam GomezThe Cougars have opted for Grad Transfer Rob Gjelaj. He appeared in 55 games and started 53 times for Division II Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. He finished the season as the school’s all-time leading saver with 319 saves. Last season, he finished fourth nationally in DII with 97 saves.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Cougars picked up where they left off last year, honoring two OVC Players of the Week on Tuesday. Nic Muench was the Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the tying goal in SIUE’s tie against Michigan State. Gjelaj was named Goalie of the Week after stopping five shots against the Spartans.
PENALTY: The Cougars were awarded nine penalties in 19 games last year. SIUE converted eight of nine penalties, with five different players scoring.
BRONZE BOAT BACK AT CITYPARK: The Cougars will face the Saint Louis Billikens for the Joseph Carenza, Sr. Trophy at St. Louis CITY SC Stadium. The game is scheduled for September 8. SIUE holds the Bronze Boot trophy after a 2-0 win last year at CITYPARK.
PROFESSIONAL TRADITION: More than 75 former SIUE players have played professional soccer, including MLS veteran Matt Polster, who is in his ninth season in the league.
PROGRAM HISTORY: SIUE is playing its 58th season of men’s soccer. The program’s record is now 602-331-98. SIUE’s .631 winning percentage to start the season ranks 23rd all-time. This is the 17th season since returning to NCAA Division I. SIUE has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 24 times, including 16 at the Division I level. The Cougars have won two national championships (1972, 1979).
