Game # 1
Lindenwood (0-0-0, 0-0-0 OVC)
at DePaul (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big East)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Venue: Wish Field
First Kick: 10:00 a.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: FloSports
Matchup
Lindenwood men's soccer opens up non-conference play on Thursday afternoon as the Lions travel north to Chicago, Ill. to take on Big East opponent DePaul University. Due to inclement weather, this match had been moved up from its original start time of 1:00 p.m. CT.
The Ohio Valley Conference will begin their inaugural season of men's soccer as Lindenwood was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams. In the Midwest Division of the Big East, DePaul was picked to finish in fifth.
2022 Season Recap
In their first Division I season last year, the Lions finished with a 3-11-1 record playing in the Summit League. Lindenwood picked up two wins against fellow OVC member Southern Indiana and another victory against Eastern Illinois.
Throughout the season, Lindenwood played tough finishing out the year with five one-goal matches. After the season, the Lions would making a coaching change picking up new head coach Kris Bertsch.
Players to Watch
Anis Smajlovic returns has the top goal scorer from the 2022 squad. Last season, Smajlovic picked up four goals and three assists in 15 matches. Throughout the season he had a total of 16 shots on goal.
Jermaine Mentoor comes to St. Charles, Mo. for his first season as a Lions. During his 2022 season with St. Charles Community College, Mentoor played in 23 games scoring four goals (one game winning goal) and one assist.
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
The Lions will continue their opening week of play on Sunday, Aug. 27 as the travel to Loyola Chicago for a Sunday match time of 1:00 p.m. CT. Livestats and video (ESPN+) will be provided.
