Game # 2
Lindenwood (0-0-1, 0-0-0 OVC)
at Loyola Chicago (0-0-0, 0-0-0 A-10)
Match Information:
Date: Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Venue: Loyola Soccer Park
First Kick: 1:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: ESPN+

Matchup
Lindenwood men's soccer returns to Chicago, Ill. for their second match of the week against A-10 opponent Loyola Chicago. Earlier this week, Loyola Chicago had their opening match canceled at Michigan State due to weather.

The Ohio Valley Conference will begin their inaugural season of men's soccer as Lindenwood was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams. Loyola Chicago was picked to finished third in the A-10 after going 9-2-7 last season.

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.

Previous Match Recap
Lindenwood men's soccer lost their opening match of the season in a low scoring match by a final score of 1-0 to Big East opponent DePaul University (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Big East) in Chicago, Ill.

Lions battled in the first half keeping DePaul off the scoreboard despite them having five shots against goalkeeper Gavin Roberts. The Blue Demons did have a shot off the goal post in the first half but the Lions' defense got the ball out quick to avoid the score.

DePaul broke the 0-0 tie late in the match during the 83rd minute when Callum Watts scored in the bottom left of the net. The Blue Demons had 11 shots throughout the match. DePaul also had eight corner kicks to just one by the Lions' offense.

Players to Watch
In his first career match at Lindenwood, Nathan Baker had two shots for the Lions (led the team). Baker, from Toronto, Canada, played for the Vaughn Soccer Club before joining coach Bertsch's squad.

Jonathan Campbell had the lone shot on goal for the Lions against DePaul last Thursday in their opening match of the season. Campbell returns to Lindenwood after making eight starts last 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
The Lions will return home on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 7:00 p.m. when they host Southwest Baptist for their first home match of the season. Livestats and ESPN+ will be provided.