EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer begins the 2021 regular season Thursday when it hosts Cedarville University for a noon match Thursday at Strassweg Field. The USI-Cedarville match is the start of a four-match homestand to begin the season.
Following the season-opening match, USI reaches the halfway mark of the homestand by hosting Oakland City University Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The remainder of the homestand includes Davenport University September 10 at 11 a.m. and the 2021 GLVC-opening match with McKendree University September 12 at noon.
Game coverage for 2021, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
Fans can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN), which is available both on your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. More information can be found at GLVCSN FAQs.
All broadcasts on GLVCSN are subject to weather or other unforeseen circumstances that could prevent the games from being broadcast.
USI Men’s Soccer Week 1 Notes:
USI last spring:Â In the 2020-21 spring, the Screaming Eagles posted a 7-6-1 overall record, 7-5-1 during the GLVC-only regular season. USI also advanced to the GLVC Tournament, falling in the first round.
Santoro is USI’s all-time leader: Head Coach Mat Santoro became the program’s all-time leader in victories (104) last season, breaking the mark that was held by former Head Coach Tony Colavecchia. Santoro, who has a 104-87-22 overall record at the helm, has guided the Eagles to a pair of NCAA II Tournament appearances; the 2018 GLVC regular season crown, and seven GLVC Tournament appearances during his tenure.
USI Offensive Leader: USI sophomore forward Zach Barton led the team with 19 points last spring on nine goals and one assist. The second-team All-GLVC forward has led USI in scoring two-straight seasons. Sophomore defender Brian Winkler topped the Eagles in assists with five.
Between the posts: Senior goalkeeper Justin Faas begins his fourth season between the posts for the Eagles. He had a 1.48 goals against average, making 50 saves, and posting a 6-6-1 record. Faas also ranks third all-time at USI with 16 career shutouts (three in 2021) and fourth with 178 career saves.
Cedarville last year:Â Â Cedarville finished the COVID-19 shortened spring season with a 7-2-1 overall record, 6-1-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season. The Yellow Jackets also advanced to the G-MAC Tournament dropping out in the second round.
USI versus Cedarville:Â The Eagles trail the series with Cedarville, 0-1-1. USI lost the first meeting with Cedarville, 1-0, at home in 2012, before tying the Yellow Jackets, 0-0, in double-overtime in 2013.
Oakland City in 2020 and 2021:Â The Mighty Oaks of Oakland City are 1-1-0 to start this season, beginning with a loss at Georgetown College, 5-1, and a win in overtime at Harris-Stowe State University, 2-1. The ‘Oaks, who were 8-8 last spring in the NAIA, play Thomas More University Wednesday before visiting USI.
USI versus Oakland City:Â USI leads the all-time series with Oakland City, 4-1-2, and won the last meeting in 2012, 4-1.
Overall GLVC Championships by the Eagles:Â Â USI has 11 GLVC men’s soccer titles since the conference was created in 1979, the most by any program in the league. The Eagles won the conference tournament championships in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991; and the regular season title in 2018.
