Thursday, August 14
Carbondale, IL
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Eastern Illinois
Photo by: Sam Bischel
Preview | SIU Soccer Opens 2025 Season at Home Versus Eastern Illinois
08/13/2025 | 3:10:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Soccer returns to Carbondale on Thursday as the Southern Illinois squad kicks off their 2025 season with a home match against Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. This season, the Salukis look to build on their strong 2024 season when they made the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for just the second time in program history.
"Players have worked extremely hard in preseason and want them to go out and enjoy the first match at home against a very well coached and experienced team," said head coach Graeme Orr.
Details
-What: Soccer vs. Eastern Illinois
-Date: August 14
-Time: 6 p.m.
-Location: Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, Carbondale, Illinois
-Opponent: Eastern Illinois University
-Live Results: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=597164
-Watch: ESPN+
Last Season
The 2024 soccer season featured the team's second-ever postseason appearance after a 6-8-5 campaign with a 2-5-3 mark in conference play.
SIU started the season on a four-game undefeated streak as the squad came out of the gate with a 2-0-2 record. After suffering their first loss to Kansas City on August 29, the team went 2-1 to round out non-conference play.
Missouri Valley Conference play began on September 19 with a 0-0 tie against Illinois State. Southern then tied Indiana State, 1-1, in their next conference match before picking up their first MVC win against Murray State on Senior Day on September 29.
Southern's undefeated streak in conference play continued through October 6 with a tie against UIC and a 2-0 win versus Valparaiso. However, a 2-1 loss to UNI on October 13 began a five-game losing streak for the Salukis that took them through the end of the regular season.
Despite the losing streak, SIU was still able to sneak into the MVC Tournament as an eight-seed but lost 2-1 against Indiana State in the opening round, ending the Saluki's second-ever postseason run.
Following the season, several Salukis earned postseason honors. Lucy Horn earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team as well as the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Making the MVC All-Freshman Team was Sophia Schlicklin, and Olivia Anderson made the All-MVC Third Team and Scholar-Athlete Third Team. Meanwhile, Ashlyn Henrie and Kylie McDermott both landed spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team while Sierra O'Grady found herself on the Scholar-Athlete Third Team.
Preseason Honors
Two Salukis were named to the MVC Preseason All-Conference Team, as Schlicklin and Anderson were both named Honorable Mentions.
Schlicklin, a sophomore out of Phoenix, Arizona, was a member of the All-MVC Freshman Team last season. In 2024, Schlicklin scored four goals and dished out one assist in 19 games, making her the second leading scorer for the Salukis.
As for Anderson, the Naperville native was named to the All-MVC Third-Team as well as the MVC Scholar-Athlete Third Team. In her first year as a Saluki after transferring from North Alabama, Anderson put up 19 shots with seven being on-goal. She appeared in all 19 games for the Salukis, starting 14 of them.
The Matchup
Southern and Eastern Illinois have met just once all-time, tying 0-0 in a game at Eastern in 2019. Despite SIU putting 12 shots up, seven of which reached goal, Eastern's goalie stood tall to shut out the Salukis. Southern's goalie, Dariana Mihalache, did her part as well, stopping both shots on goal she faced for the shutout.
Eastern Illinois is coming off a 5-8-6 2024 season where they went 3-3-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The squad lost their first game of the OVC Tournament 2-1 versus the #7 seed, SEMO.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
"Players have worked extremely hard in preseason and want them to go out and enjoy the first match at home against a very well coached and experienced team," said head coach Graeme Orr.
Details
-What: Soccer vs. Eastern Illinois
-Date: August 14
-Time: 6 p.m.
-Location: Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, Carbondale, Illinois
-Opponent: Eastern Illinois University
-Live Results: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=597164
-Watch: ESPN+
Last Season
The 2024 soccer season featured the team's second-ever postseason appearance after a 6-8-5 campaign with a 2-5-3 mark in conference play.
SIU started the season on a four-game undefeated streak as the squad came out of the gate with a 2-0-2 record. After suffering their first loss to Kansas City on August 29, the team went 2-1 to round out non-conference play.
Missouri Valley Conference play began on September 19 with a 0-0 tie against Illinois State. Southern then tied Indiana State, 1-1, in their next conference match before picking up their first MVC win against Murray State on Senior Day on September 29.
Southern's undefeated streak in conference play continued through October 6 with a tie against UIC and a 2-0 win versus Valparaiso. However, a 2-1 loss to UNI on October 13 began a five-game losing streak for the Salukis that took them through the end of the regular season.
Despite the losing streak, SIU was still able to sneak into the MVC Tournament as an eight-seed but lost 2-1 against Indiana State in the opening round, ending the Saluki's second-ever postseason run.
Following the season, several Salukis earned postseason honors. Lucy Horn earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team as well as the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Making the MVC All-Freshman Team was Sophia Schlicklin, and Olivia Anderson made the All-MVC Third Team and Scholar-Athlete Third Team. Meanwhile, Ashlyn Henrie and Kylie McDermott both landed spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team while Sierra O'Grady found herself on the Scholar-Athlete Third Team.
Preseason Honors
Two Salukis were named to the MVC Preseason All-Conference Team, as Schlicklin and Anderson were both named Honorable Mentions.
Schlicklin, a sophomore out of Phoenix, Arizona, was a member of the All-MVC Freshman Team last season. In 2024, Schlicklin scored four goals and dished out one assist in 19 games, making her the second leading scorer for the Salukis.
As for Anderson, the Naperville native was named to the All-MVC Third-Team as well as the MVC Scholar-Athlete Third Team. In her first year as a Saluki after transferring from North Alabama, Anderson put up 19 shots with seven being on-goal. She appeared in all 19 games for the Salukis, starting 14 of them.
The Matchup
Southern and Eastern Illinois have met just once all-time, tying 0-0 in a game at Eastern in 2019. Despite SIU putting 12 shots up, seven of which reached goal, Eastern's goalie stood tall to shut out the Salukis. Southern's goalie, Dariana Mihalache, did her part as well, stopping both shots on goal she faced for the shutout.
Eastern Illinois is coming off a 5-8-6 2024 season where they went 3-3-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The squad lost their first game of the OVC Tournament 2-1 versus the #7 seed, SEMO.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - Colin Bohanek
Sunday, September 14
9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - DJ Williams
Sunday, September 14
9.14.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at UT Martin - Nick Hill
Sunday, September 14
Saluki Radio Football Broadcast - at UT Martin
Sunday, September 14