Game #20
Lindenwood (14-2-3, 6-2-2 OVC)
vs. Houston Christian (11-5-2, 5-3-2 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Hunter Stadium.
First Kick: 7:30 p.m. CT.
All-Time Series: 1-1-2.
Last Meeting: W, 2-1.
Live Stats: Lindenwood vs HCU
Watch: ESPN+
Buy: Tickets

Last Time Out
Lindenwood Men's Soccer advanced to their first conference tournament championship game in the Division I era on Wednesday night with a 2-0 shutout victory over the SIUE Cougars. Ethan Blake opened the scoring for the Lions in the contest at the 9^th minute off a great pass from the OVC Defender of the Year Leandro Haesler from just behind midfield. Blake received the ball in stride, and sent a shot through two SIUE defenders that hit the inside of the left goalpost and into the back of the net to give Lindenwood an early 1-0 lead. The Lions extended their lead later in the first half in the 36^th minute as Maxime Legai intercepted a Cougar pass in SIUE's defensive zone and sent a pass up the left sideline to Luca Bartoni. The OVC Forward of the Year was able to move the ball back to the middle of the field and send a shot across his body that went by the SIUE goalkeeper to extend the Lion's lead to 2-0 right before halftime.

Lindenwood's defense allowed just one shot on goal in the OVC Semifinal matchup with SIUE and posted their OVC leading 12^th shutout of the 2025 season to advance to the OVC Tournament Championship game on Saturday night against the #2 seed Houston Christian Huskies.

Scouting The Huskies
Houston Christian defeated Liberty in the other OVC Semifinal matchup on Wednesday by a score of 1-0. The lone goal of the game was scored in the 3^rd minute by the All-OVC First Team selection, Ryan Okerayi. Okerayi leads the Huskies in points (20), and goals scored (9) in 2025, appearing in 17 of HCU's 18 games played.

HCU also has the OVC Goalkeeper of the Year in Alex Aitken. Aitken has started all 18 games this season for the Huskies, and has posted a GAA of 0.73 in 1,610 minutes played while making 75 saves on the season. The Lions defeated HCU in their only matchup of the 2025 regular season back on October 19 by a score of 2-1 inside Hunter Stadium. Alander Soares scored in the 8^th minute to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead, but the Huskies tied it up in the second half at the 63^rd minute after an unfortunate bounce led to a wide open net for HCU's D'Alessandro Herrera. Lindenwood responded in the 80^th minute as All-OVC First Teamer and All-OVC Newcomer Matteo Landais scored the game-winning goal to lift the Lions to their 12^th win of the season.  
 
Stats to Know

• Luca Bartoni is now tied for the team lead in goals with six after scoring a goal in the OVC Semifinal round.
• Ethan Blake has four game-winning goals in 2025, posting back-to-back seasons with four GWG's.
• Gavin Roberts picked up his sixth win and fifth shutout of the season on Wednesday. Five of his six wins have been against Ohio Valley Conference opponents in 2025.
• Mikey Lennon leads the Lions in minutes played in 2025 with 1,562. He has played in all but one game this season.

Up Next
The winner of Lindenwood and HCU will advance to the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament. The first round of the tournament starts on Thursday, November 20 with time and location TBD.