SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Mercer 2,
Southern Indiana 0
@Northern Kentucky 3,
Western Illinois 0
@Lindenwood 5, Westminster College 0
SIUE 1, #8 Saint Louis 0 (CITYPARK)
MERCER 2, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
MACON, Ga. - University of Southern Indiana Men's Soccer finished its five-game, season-opening road swing with a 2-0 loss at Mercer University Sunday morning in Macon, Georgia. The Screaming Eagles are 0-5-0, while the Bears go to 3-1-2.
The Eagles fell behind early in the match as the Bears had a 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes. Mercer, which had the momentum throughout the first half with a 10-3 lead in shots, posted the first tally at 8:11 and doubled its lead with another goal at 26:51.
It was a scoreless draw between the two squads in the second half. Mercer maintained control of the match with 10-4 lead in shots and an 8-2 lead in corners. USI sophomore forward Jackson Mitchell (Newburgh, Indiana) led the Eagles with three shots.
Between the posts for USI, sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Klott (St. Charles, Missouri) faced 20 total shots, allowing a pair of goals and making four saves.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Western Illinois University men's soccer team looked to build on back-to-back wins as they took on the Northern Kentucky Norse on Sunday afternoon. The Leathernecks took a 3-0 loss to the Norse in the matchup, as NKU scored in the 33rd, 49th, and 76th minutes.
The Leathernecks won the shot battle 17-14, but had significantly fewer shots on goal, with only three compared to the Norse's nine. Keeper Micah Ramirez saved six shots, but the NKU keeper saved shots from Xavier Gagnon, Jimmy Baars, and Tyler Philpott.
Despite five corner kicks for the Leathernecks in the second half, none resulted in a WIU goal. Western Illinois also had a significantly larger number of free kicks than the Norse, drawing 15 fouls compared to NKU's seven.
LINDENWOOD 5, WESTMINSTER COLLEGE 0
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood men's soccer (2-2-1, 0-0-0 OVC) finished off the weekend with a 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays of Wesminster College (Mo.) (0-4-0, SLIAC) at Hunter Stadium. The Lions went 2-0 at home this week including a 3-2 victory over Evansville on Friday.
Sunday's action saw Lindenwood post 32 shots which is the most in a game for LU since last season when the Lions had 38 against UHSP. A total of 15 different players had a shot on Sunday including six from Ethan Blake.
Lindenwood landed 14 of those shots on net including five resulting in a goal. Matteo Boasso led the way with two goals against the Blue Jays. Boasso had three of his five shots land on goal. Blake finished the game with one goal and two assists.
The Lions spread the wealth against Westminster posting at least one assist on all five goals. Six different players registered an assist in the game. Starting goalkeeper Gavin Roberts made one save on Sunday as LU's defense limited Westminster to three total shots.
Boasso started the match off quickly with his first of two goals during the second minute of play. It took the Lions just 83 seconds to score. His goal was assisted by Ethan Blake and John Gates. Lindenwood took 17 shots in the first half, but only netted one goal.
Lindenwood's offense also struck quickly to open up the second half with a goal by Blake. He was assisted by Henrique Perestrelo in the 50th minute. Boasso followed that with his second goal during the 63rd minute as he was assisted by Josh Francombe and Luke Neely.
Anis Smajlovis scored his first goal in a Lindenwood uniform since the 2022 season during the 71st minute where he was assisted by Blake for his second assist of the afternoon.
Connor Lovell scored his first goal of the season to end the game for Lindenwood during the 81st minute of play to put the Lions up 5-0 at Hunter Stadium. Lovell's goal was assisted by Jozef Palushaj.
SIUE 1, #8 SAINT LOUIS 0
ST. LOUIS - The Bronze Boot is staying in Edwardsville. SIUE men's soccer blanked No. 19 Saint Louis 1-0 at CITYPARK Sunday to win the Joseph Carenza, Sr. Trophy for the second consecutive year.
The Cougars improved to 1-2-1 with the win. Saint Louis also is 1-2-1.
Yasha Shaerer's 62nd minute penalty kick goal was the lone score as the Cougars have won back-to-back games in the series for the first time since consecutive wins in 1979 and 1980.
Shaerer's penalty kick came after Nacho Abeal was fouled in the box on an attack from the left side.
Saint Louis outshot the Cougars 13-4 in the game, including holding a 7-1 advantage in the second half. The Billikens put four shots on goal, all of which were turned away by SIUE goalkeeper Rob Gjelaj. Gjelaj recorded his first win and shutout in a Cougar uniform.
SIUE's four shots came from four different players. Shaerer and Nacho Abeal each had a shot on frame for SIUE.
Jackson Delkus managed a pair of shots on goal for Saint Louis. SLU goalkeeper Jeremi Abbonel made a single save.