USI Soccer kicks off OVC action this week

Eagles host SIUE, visit Lindenwood

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer kicks off its first Ohio Valley Conference schedule this week by hosting Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Thursday and visiting Lindenwood University Sunday. Game time versus SIUE at Strassweg Field is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, while kick off at Lindenwood in St. Louis is slated for 1 p.m.
 
The Eagles (1-6-0) are hoping to ride the momentum of their first victory of the season last week, defeating Northern Kentucky University in thrilling fashion, 3-2. USI had goals from senior midfielder Nick Faddis (St. Louis, Missouri), freshman midfielder Pablo Juan (St. Louis, Missouri) and junior midfielder Garland Hall (Evansville, Indiana).
 
USI, which is in its third conference in the last three seasons, renews league play against this week’s opponents. The Eagles play SIUE in a conference match for the first time since 2007 when the Cougars were members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
USI and Lindenwood make the move over to the OVC this season after both competed in the Summit League last year.
 
The SIUE Cougars (5-0-2) begin this week’s action as the OVC’s only unbeaten team in non-conference action and has been ranked nationally in the top 25.
 
SIUE leads the all-time series with USI, 13-3-1, and in conference play, 12-1-1 (GLVC). Two of USI’s three victories over SIUE came during the Eagles’ first move to Division I in 1993 (4-2 at Strassweg Field) and 1994 (4-0 at SIUE). The Cougars, who are visiting Strassweg for the first time since 2006, won last year’s match-up in Edwardsville, 5-1, and have taken the last five meetings, dating back to the 2002 GLVC Tournament.
 
Lindenwood (3-3-2) 2-0-1 in the last three matches after getting an 8-0 win over the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis and 2-1 win at LeMoyne College last week. The Lions open OVC play Thursday at Eastern Illinois University before hosting USI.
 
The Eagles and Lions are knotted up a 2-2-0 in the all-time series. Lindenwood has taken the last two matches, including last year’s in St. Charles, Missouri, 2-0. USI snatched the first two meetings in the series, 2-0 and 4-3, with both being played in Evansville.