Game #1
Lindenwood (0-0-0, 0-0-0 OVC)
at. Chicago State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 NEC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Venue: Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep
First Kick: 12:00 p.m. CT 
All-Time Series: 2-0-0
Last Meeting: W, 2-0
Live Stats: Lindenwood at Chicago State
Watch: NEC Front Row

Lindenwood Men's Soccer will begin their 2025 campaign on Thursday, August 21 at Chicago State at 12 p.m. CT. Coming off an 11 win season in 2024 and an OVC semifinal appearance, the Lions will look to make some noise in their first year of being eligible for postseason play. Lindenwood will go for their first win in the season opener for the first time since 2017 when they defeated Truman State 3-0 on September 1 of that year.

About Chicago State
In 2024, Chicago State went 3-11-1 overall with two of their wins coming in the NEC over Central Connecticut State and Howard. The Cougars were projected to finish in ninth place in the men's soccer 2025 preseason poll that was released by the NEC on August 6. Key returners for the Cougars include Forward Hilary Odhiambo, who played in seven games in 2024 and logged two goals and two assists, Midfielder Bill Okumu, who played in 14 games in 2024 including 12 starts, and Defender Zephyn Brockert-Kress, who returns for his senior season and is coming off a one goal and one assist season.

Last season, Chicago State was outscored 40-16 and averaged 9.5 shots per game, with 67 of their 142 total shots being on goal. The Cougars return 11 players from 2024 and have 15 newcomers to the 2025 roster.

About Lindenwood
The biggest storyline for the Lions 2025 Men's Soccer squad will be the 19 newcomers joining the team. Leading the way for the newcomers will be Sebastia Cerda Tous, who was named a player to watch by the Ohio Valley Conference on August 14, and Jarred Hendricks, who scored 17 goals as a Freshman a season ago. Hendricks led Campbellsville University in goals (17) and points (35) and was named to the NCCAA All-American First Team in 2024. Meanwhile, Cerda Tous scored six goals in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023, finishing with 33 career points during his time at Catawba College.

Among the 11 returners, Ethan Blake will look to build off his 2024 season in which he led the Lions in several offensive categories including goals (8), assists (9), and points (25). The Jefferson City native was named to the All-OVC First Team for the second year in a row in 2024, starting in 16 of 18 games last season and playing a total of 1,122 minutes. Blake led the OVC in points (25) and in game-winning goals (4) in 2024. His six conference goals ranked second as well. Jozef Palushaj (7 points) and Jordan Matthews (6 points) will also look to contribute in 2025. The Lions are projected to finish third in the OVC preseason polls, trailing only SIUE and Houston Christian.

Stats to know

• The Lions led the OVC in goals scored (22) and points (68) during conference play in 2024
• 11 wins last season was the most in a single season for the program since 2017 (10 wins)
• Head Coach Kris Bertsch has increased the Lions' win total each season by four in his first two years at the helm
• Bertsch holds a record of 18-13-9 at Lindenwood
• Lindenwood has won both all-time meetings against Chicago State, with the last matchup being a 2-0 win on November 5, 2023 at Edwardsville in the first round of the OVC Championships.

Up Next
Following the matchup with Chicago State, the Lions will return home for their home opener as they will take on the Milwaukee Panthers on Tuesday, August 26 at 5 p.m. in Hunter Stadium.