Game #17
Lindenwood (6-4-6, 3-1-4 OVC)
vs. SIUE (12-0-3, 7-0-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2023
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hunter Stadium
First Kick: 7:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: SIUE leads, 0-1-1
Last Meeting: Tied, 2-2 (10/05/23)
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: ESPN+

Matchup
Lindenwood men's soccer returns home to Hunter Stadium for the final time this season as they host the Cougars of SIUE on Thursday for their second to last Ohio Valley Conference game of the season. Lindenwood tied Eastern Illinois on Sunday for their 13th point of the season in the OVC.

SIUE is the only undefeated team this season in the OVC. Their one tied in the conference play came at the hands of the Lions earlier this season in Edwardsville, Ill. Since tying Lindenwood, the Cougars have won match matches in a row and have locked up the one seed at the OVC Tournament.

The Ohio Valley Conference began their inaugural season of men's soccer as Lindenwood was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams. SIUE was picked to finish in second in the OVC after competing in the Missouri Valley Conference prior to this year.

Previous Match Recap
Lindenwood men's soccer earned a point on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois. The Lions posted 15 total shots with four on goal.

The first half saw an aggressive Eastern Illinois team out-shoot the Lions seven to four. The Lions also allowed three corner kicks through the first 45 minutes of the match.

Despite EIU posting more shots, it was Lindenwood's offense who struck first on Sunday with a goal by Cameron Caldwell in the 30th minute of play. Jens Haukeland provided with sixth assist of the season to give LU the early 1-0 lead.

Lindenwood battled tough the rest of the first half, but Eastern Illinois' offense strung together a few passes to tie the match at 1-1 in the 40th minute. EIU's Jared Cornejo scored off of two assists by Kyle Ward and Julian Smith. The first half would end in a tie.

The Lions' offense came roaring out of halftime and looked aggressive. Lindenwood would eventually post 11 of their 15 shots in the second half. They would also post two more shots on goal in the second half.

In the 76th minute, Matty Wackerfuss had a shot in the net that was blocked due to a handball. Haukeland then took the penalty kick for the Lions and was saved by EIU's goalie Chad Smith. It was one of his four saves today against Lindenwood.

Enzo Gil for the Lions made three saves today in the 1-1 draw. Lindenwood was up a man in the final 15 minutes of action due to a red card on EIU, but the Panthers stood their ground forcing a tie against the Lions.

OVC Top Ten Rankings
Cole Hutson remains in the top ten in game-winning goals this season with a total of two in only 11 games played. Jens Haukeland also is among the top of the leader board in assists with six.

Enzo Gil has made a name for himself this season as one of the top goalies in the conference. He currently ranks second in goals against average (1.064). His save percentage of .717 is also second in the OVC. Gil also has four shutouts this season.

Head Coach: Kris Bertsch
Bertsch enters his first season as the head coach of Lindenwood men's soccer during the 2023 fall season. He comes to Lindenwood after spending five seasons at Saint Louis University as the top assistant coach where he helped guide the Billikens to an impressive 53-22-14 record.  Individually, Bertsch has been recognized as one of the Top Assistant Coaches in the country four different times. 

Saint Louis captured back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, resulting in two-straight NCAA Men's Soccer Championship appearances.  In 2022, Bertsch and the SLU staff earned the honor as the NCAA Division I Southeast Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.

Up Next
Lindenwood will end their 2023 regular season at Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1:00 p.m. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.