THURSDAY'S SCORES
Lindenwood 2, @Southern Indiana
@SIUE 3, Eastern Illinois 0
Liberty 2, @UIW 0
@HCU 3, Western Illinois 0
LINDENWOOD 2, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Lindenwood men's soccer (5-4-1, 1-1-0 OVC) picks up their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season after defeating Southern Indiana (2-8-0, 1-1-0 OVC) by a final score of 2-0. It marked the Lions' third shutout of the season.
It was an offensive day for the Lions' as they out-shot the Screaming Eagles 17-9 including seven shots on goal. Ethan Blake was the leading forward for Lindenwood posting five shots with two landing on goal and one in net.
Defensively, Lindenwood's goal keeper Enzo Gil posted his second shutout of the season, his first since the first match of the season. Gil made just two saves as the Lions' defense held USI to nine shots and just two on goal. Mekhi Wright, Luke Neely and Jermaine Mentoor all played over 65 minutes on defense for LU.
Blake got the scoring underway in the ninth minute of action after a cross by John Gates into the box which Blake controlled off his body leading to a goal in the bottom right of the net. Anel Kafedzic had the first pass to Gates for his second assist of the season. Blake is now tied for second in the OVC in points with 12.
Lindenwood's defense was sound during the first 45 minutes of action not allowing a single shot on goal by Southern Indiana. The Screaming Eagles' goalie Andrew Klott had three saves during the first half.
The majority of the second half was neck and neck but the Lions took a 2-0 lead late during the 75th minute with Gates' third-goal of the season. He is now tied for the team lead with Matteo Boasso in goals. Cameron Caldwell and Jozef Palushaj had the assists on the Lions' goal.
Gil was busier in the second half making two saves in net. Lindenwood had 10 shots in the second half to just six by the Screaming Eagles. The Lions' now control the all-time series with a 4-3 record.
SIUE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE men's soccer enjoyed its best offensive night of the season on its way to its second consecutive shutout win. The Cougars downed Eastern Illinois 3-0 Thursday at Korte Stadium.
SIUE unleashed a season-high 23 total shots and nine shots on goal to improve to 4-3-2 overall and 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
EIU slipped to 1-6-1 overall and 0-2 in the OVC.
The Cougars scored all three goals from corner kicks, taking a 1-0 lead after a corner in the seventh minute. Yasha Schaerer played the corner out to Stephan Moreira at the top of the box, Moreira put the ball into the box where it was headed home by Pavel Dashin.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead into the break, despite increased pressure from Eastern Illinois at the end of the first half.
Wes Gibson headed home his first career goal to double the Cougars' advantage in the 56th minute. Schaerer put a corner on goal. EIU goalkeeper Chad Smith tipped the shot to back post where Gibson was waiting.
Nacho Abeal made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Schaerer played a corner to the top of the 18-yard bard where Abeal unloaded a right-footed shot into the upper corner for his second goal of the year.
Rob Gjelaj turned away all three shots on goal from Eastern Illinois to pick up his second straight shutout and fourth overall this season.
Sam Eccles led the Panthers with two shots, one of which was on goal.
LIBERTY 2, UIW 0
SAN ANTONIO - The Liberty Flames used a smothering defensive effort for a 2-0 victory over the Incarnate Word Cardinals to begin their two-game Ohio Valley Conference road swing in Texas, Thursday evening at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
Forward Michael Huss, the OVC leading scorer, and midfielder Aidan Morrison each scored for the Flames in the contest. Huss scored early in the first half and Morrison netted his goal early in the second half.
Meanwhile, Liberty's swarming defense held host UIW to two shots on goal over the 90 minutes, both of which goalkeeper Owen Moore saved. The shutout was the Flames second of 2024.
Liberty moves to 2-0 in OVC play and 4-3-1 on the season. UIW drops to 0-2 in conference and 2-5-1 overall.
HCU 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
HOUSTON - Ryan Okerayi hit the back of the net at the stroke of the first minute and Houston Christian University never looked back in blanking visiting Western Illinois University 3-0 at Sorrels Field on Thursday night. The electric start opened the floodgates as the Huskies put three on the board in the first 12 minutes and coasted to their second straight victory to open Ohio Valley Conference play.
After the opening kickoff and push by the Leathernecks, Theo Butterworth got possession nearly 45 seconds in and launched a long pass down the right sideline where Thomas Wyke was waiting. Wyke would then take a couple of dribbles before directing a beautiful through ball into the box that found Okerayi on a mad dash for the smash that gave HCU a scintillating opening to the match.
Seven minutes later, the Huskies were at it again. A corner kick found D'Alessandro Herrera for a shot out top that was blocked. Theo Butterworth and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg would combine to track down the loose ball and get a pass chipped into the box where Sam Zeeman headed it in to give HCU a startling two-nil advantage just 8:16 into the match.
The flurry wasn't finished however, as just over three minutes later the Huskies were on the attack again. Ethan Giwa-McNeil carried his dribble down the right endline where he poked a pass back right near the penalty spot where Ron Pressler slotted it home through traffic to give HCU its third tally in the opening 11:34.
The Huskies would cruise from there, using a stingy defense that allowed just five shots total and two on goal during the entire evening. HCU would hold the Leathernecks to no shot attempts in the second half and carried a 13-5 advantage on the night in shots, 5-2 on goal.
Ryan Okerayi's goal was his fourth of the season, tying him for the team lead with Giwa-McNeil. Sam Zeeman and Ron Pressler became the eighth and ninth different players to put home a goal for HCU this season. Theo Butterworth had his first two career assists while Giwa-McNeil added one and Thomas Wyke and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg chipped in their first career assist as well.
Alex Aitken had two saves on the night allowing him to pass Christopher Dodd for third place all-time on the HCU leaderboards. He improves to 4-2-2 on the season, posting his second clean sheet in his last three outings.
Liam Gainey had three shots, two on goal for the Leathernecks who drop their second straight game to open conference play. Western Illinois falls to 5-5-1 overall and 0-2-0 in the OVC, and will head to San Antonio for a Sunday matinee with Incarnate Word. UIW fell to Liberty University 2-0 on Thursday.
HCU has now won three in a row and is unbeaten in its last five to push their season ledger to 4-4-2 overall and 2-0-0 in the league The Huskies return to Fondren Road on Sunday night when they complete the homestand against Liberty. Kick-off is slated for 7 pm.
In other action around the league, SIU-Edwardsville joined HCU and Liberty at 2-0-0 in conference play with a 3-0 home victory over Eastern Illinois while Lindenwood pitched a shutout at Southern Indiana 2-0.