Eagles to Host Senior Day on Saturday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer team will host their senior day festivities on Saturday, October 8, when they play host to the University of Nebraska Omaha at 7pm. Senior recognition is set to start at 6:15 pm.
 
After their match with the Mavericks, the Screaming Eagles will take an 11-day break before making their furthest trip of the year when they travel to Denver, Colorado to take on the University of Denver on October 19. Then USI will head to St. Charles, Missouri to take on Lindenwood University for the second time this season on October 23. The Lions beat the Eagles 2-1 in a non-conference match earlier this season.
 
USI will be hosting their senior day recognition on Saturday before the match with Omaha. The Eagles will be honoring Brian Winkler (Philpot, Kentucky), Ryan Olwig (St. Peters, Missouri), Mical Hardtman (Hamilton Parris, Bermuda), Colten Walsh (St. Louis, Missouri), Ryan Nevins (St. Peters, Missouri), and Alec Meissner (St. Charles, Missouri). Winkler finishes his career with three goals and 15 assists in his 52 games played. Olwig ends his USI career making 19 appearances for the Eagles. Hardtman has scored one goal and recorded two assists in 29 matches over his three seasons. Walsh has played and started in 77 games over his five-year career at USI, he has scored 10 goals and recorded nine assists for the Eagles and has played over 6100 minutes for USI. Lindsay leaves USI with two assists in his 62 games played over the last five seasons. Nevins ends his USI career scoring 11 goals, including six in 2019, and recording five assists over 71 games played. In his three years at USI, Meissner has played in 16 matches and made 11 starts, he has allowed 21 goals while making 53 saves and facing 150 shots.
 
The Eagles struggled offensively against Bellarmine, not recording a shot in the first half and finishing the match being outshot 25-10 and 12-2 in shots on goal. The USI defense looked incredible however, while allowing 13 shots in the first half, the back line was able to keep the Knights scoreless at halftime. Meissner played a big roll in that, making six saves. The final 30-minute curse struck again for the Eagles when the Knights took a 1-0 advantage in the 67th minute off a corner. USI couldn’t get the momentum to swing their way as Bellarmine was able to cap off the night with a goal in the 74th minute to make it 2-0.
 
Sam Benoist (Foristell, Missouri) was named the TicketSmarter Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week on Monday after leading the Eagles to their first victory over Eastern Illinois University. Benoist finished the match with four points coming from his two goals. He also took two shots and two shots on goal which converted both. This is Benoist’s first weekly honor and USI’s first since Brian Winkler earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week in 2021.
 
Head Coach Mat Santoro has been trying to find the perfect lineup all season for the Eagles. Only five outfield players have started in every game they’ve played this season. Nick Faddis (St. Louis, Missouri), Will Kirchhofer (Fishers, Indiana), Damian McGregor-Wickham (Toronto, Canada), and Walsh have all started every match for the Eagles while Ednilson Voiles (Jeremie, Haiti) has played and started in 10 matches. In the 11 matches for the Eagles, they have had nine different starting lineups this season. The Eagle’s defense has been very consistent for Santoro, with his main stays of Walsh, McGregor-Wickham, and Travis Sides (Evansville, Indiana) who have all been playing well this season especially in the first half.
 
Summit League Play
Summit League play continued on Saturday with four matches on the schedule. Western Illinois University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City fought to a tough 0-0 draw. USI earned their first win of the year over Eastern Illinois, 3-2. Denver continues their hot season with a win over Omaha, 1-0. The match between the University of St. Thomas and Oral Roberts University was postponed after the loss of ORU player Eugene Quaynor. Four Summit League sides are in action on Tuesday, but no conference matches are on the schedule. Eastern Illinois and Lindenwood opened the conference week with a battle on Wednesday, the Lions came out victorious 2-1. Eastern Illinois then hosts in-state rival Western Illinois on Saturday with an early kickoff and both teams looking for their first Summit League win of the year. Denver and St. Thomas will meet in St. Paul, Minnesota as both teams fight to stay unbeaten in conference play. There are two nightcaps in the league as Omaha travels to USI and Oral Roberts heads to take on UMKC, both matches starting at 7pm.
 
Nebraska Omaha Mavericks
Omaha comes to Strassweg Field on Saturday with a 4-4-1, 1-1 Summit, and are coming off a loss to Denver last Saturday, 1-0. Mathis Pilon St-Louis is leading the Mavericks this season with four goals on the year. Kenji Mboma Dem leads the team with nine points this year, scoring three goals and recording three assists. Pilon St-Louis is leading the team with 21 shots as well as 8 shots on goal. Omaha has had two keepers playing this season, Nathanael Sallah started the first seven non-conference matches for the Mavericks, allowing 18 goals and making 23 saves on 97 shots faced. But they have gone with Lute Lillo Portero for both of their conference matchups, he has allowed one goal and made 10 saves on 28 shots faced. The Mavericks were picked to finish third in the Summit League this season after finishing last season in third place with a 6-10-1, 4-2 Summit League, record.
 
Saturday’s match between USI and Omaha can be seen on ESPN+.