SLU sophomore CJ Coppola (13) has scored the game-winning goal in all three of the Billikens wins this season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer // Match Information
Match No. 8#9 Missouri State Bears (5-0-1) at SLU Billikens (3-3-1)
Date // TimeWednesday, September 27 // 7 pm
LocationSt. Louis, MO // Hermann Stadium
StreamESPN+
Live StatsStatBroadcast
Series HistorySaint Louis leads 9-0-5

Jason Barnes
Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS, MO — One of the highlight matchups of the entire NCAA men’s college soccer season will take place Wednesday night, when Saint Louis University hosts No. 9 Missouri State at historic Hermann Stadium.

Both clubs were picked to win their respective conferences (Saint Louis – Atlantic 10, Missouri State – Missouri Valley). Both teams were in the national preseason rankings (SLU – No. 24, Missouri State – No. 12). And both teams have been on a roll late (SLU is unbeaten in its last three, Missouri State is unbeaten on the season).

Saint Louis (3-3-1) is coming off a 2-1 Homecoming Night victory, last Saturday, in an Atlantic 10 Conference match over Fordham. While Missouri State (5-0-1) is coming off three straight shutout victories over VCU, Northern Illinois, and Belmont. In fact, the Bears have only allowed one goal all season.

The two teams have met 15 times previously, and SLU has never lost. The Billikens are 9-0-5 all time against the Bears. So it should be a major showdown when the two longtime regional rivals battle on Wednesday.

Players to Watch: SLU will be led by sophomore forward CJ Coppola, the current A-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week. He earned that honor after scoring game-winning goals in both Billiken win last week.

For the season, Coppola has four goals, which leads the team, and three have those scores have been the game-winner in Saint Louis’ three wins.

Freshman goalkeeper Mason Hart has also being playing well lately. He’s was the A-10’s Rookie of the Week this week, after making eight saves in the Billikens’ shutout win over Oral Roberts last week.

Missouri State features a pair of top notch playmakers in senior midfielder Jack Denton and senior forward Jesus Barea. Denton, who has two goals this season, was the MVC Midfielder of the Year last season and has 18 total assists in his career. And Barea, who also has two goals this year, was the MVC Player of the Year last year and has 15 goals and 12 assists in his career.

Up Next: SLU will be back in Atlantic 10 league play this weekend, when it takes on Rhode Island, Saturday night at Hermann Stadium. That match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.

2023 Saint Louis Billikens Upcoming Men’s Soccer Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 27, 20237 pmHome#9 Missouri StateHermann Stadium
September 30, 20237 pmHomeRhode IslandHermann Stadium
October 4, 20232 pmAwayGeorge WashingtonWashington, D.C
October 7, 20237 pmHomeLa SalleHermann Stadium
October 10, 20237 pmHomeCentral ArkansasHermann Stadium
October 14, 20233 pmAwayLoyola ChicagoChicago, Ill.
October 21, 20237 pmHomeDaytonHermann Stadium
October 24, 20237 pmHomeBlackburnHermann Stadium
October 28, 20236 pmAwaySaint Joseph’sPhiladelphia, Pa.