EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer concludes its five-game season-opening road swing with a visit to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. The match is set for a special 10 a.m. (CDT) kick off and will air on ESPN+.
Following the USI-Mercer showdown, the Screaming Eagles will appear at Strassweg Field for the first time in 2024 when they host old GLVC-rival Bellarmine University September 14. Kickoff on September 14 is slated for 7 p.m. and will the annual USI Gold Game to promote awareness of childhood cancers.
The USI-Bellarmine contest is the start of a five-match homestand for the Eagles that includes the start of 2024 Ohio Valley Conference slate. The homestand, which is USI’s longest of the season, also includes meetings with Purdue University Ft. Wayne (September 17); Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (September 25), Eastern Illinois University (September 28) and Lindenwood University (October 3).
USI fans can attend all Men’s Soccer 2024 home matches for free, courtesy of a sponsorship from ProRehab. Game coverage for 2024, including links to live stats and/or video streams, can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.
USI Men’s Soccer Week 3 Notes:
Eagles come up short in Mayor’s Cup. The Screaming Eagles came up short in the cross-town matchup with the University of Evansville, 3-1, in the Mayor’s Cup. Freshman forward David Davila had the lone USI goals, giving the Eagles a brief 1-0 lead in the opening half.
Davila’s goal. Freshman forward David Davila posted his first collegiate goal in the match at Evansville.
USI falls in heartbreaker at Green Bay. The Eagles lost a heartbreaker Thursday, falling in the final four seconds, 3-2, to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. USI freshman midfielder Ahiro Nakamae provided all the offense for the Eagles with a pair of first half goals.
Nakamae had three goals in three matches: Freshman midfielder Ahiro Nakamae is the first USI freshman to have three goals in his first three matches since Eric Ramirez had three goals in three matches in 2016. Ramirez would go on to score at least a goal in six of his first eight matches and would lead USI in scoring with 21 points on 10 goals and one assist as a freshman in 2016.
Mercer’s start to 2024: Mercer University is 1-1-2 in 2024. The Bears, who tied the University of North Florida Sunday, are scheduled to host the University of Memphis Thursday before USI arrives on Sunday.
USI vs. Mercer: USI lost the first ever meeting with Mercer last year at USI, 1-0.
Bellarmine in 2024: Bellarmine is off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2024 campaign. The Knights lost to the University of Louisville Monday and are slated to host the University of North Carolina Ashville September 7 and Belmont University September 10 before coming to USI.
USI vs. Bellarmine: USI has a 25-16-2 all-time series lead over Bellarmine, dating back to the beginning of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Eagles has the advantage in the last 10 matches, 5-3-2, but the Knights have won the last two (2-0 in 2022; 5-1 in 2019).
