BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - Lindenwood (13-1-2) continued their impressive season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Southern Indiana (2-9-4) on Saturday afternoon at the USI Soccer Complex. The Lions controlled the match from start to finish, extending their winning streak to three games while handing the Screaming Eagles their second consecutive loss.
Matteo Landais opened the scoring for Lindenwood in the 14th minute, connecting on a feed from Alander Soares. Leandro Haesler doubled the advantage in the 41st minute off an assist from Gavin Csiszar, before completing his brace in the 89th minute with Landais providing the assist. The Lions' offensive prowess was evident throughout, with their tactical superiority creating numerous scoring opportunities.
The first half saw Lindenwood establish dominance early, with Alander Soares testing the Southern Indiana defense with a blocked shot in the 2nd minute. Gavin Csiszar and Ethan Blake both came close to scoring, with Blake hitting the woodwork in the 11th minute. The Lions' pressure resulted in five shots on target before halftime, while their defensive organization limited Southern Indiana to just one attempt from Ian Graham in the 10th minute.
Southern Indiana attempted to regroup after the break, but Lindenwood's control continued. The second half featured tactical adjustments from both sides, with Southern Indiana making multiple substitutions around the 74th minute, including Pablo Juan and Oliver Church making way. However, Lindenwood's defensive unit, anchored by strong performances from Quinn Connolly and Harrison Hubert, maintained their clean sheet despite increased pressure from the hosts.
The match statistics reflected Lindenwood's dominance, as they outshot Southern Indiana 22-4, with seven shots on target compared to the hosts' two. The Lions also held the advantage in corner kicks (5-1), demonstrating their superior attacking presence. The physical nature of the game was evident with four yellow cards distributed - two to each team, including cautions to Ian Graham and Edin Cvorovic for Southern Indiana, and Henrique Perestrelo and Noah Sapsford for Lindenwood.
Matteo Landais proved to be a constant threat for Lindenwood, recording multiple shots and contributing both a goal and an assist. Leandro Haesler's clinical finishing with two goals highlighted the Lions' offensive efficiency, while Alander Soares's creative playmaking kept Southern Indiana's defense under constant pressure. For the hosts, Ian Graham showed moments of promise but struggled to break through Lindenwood's organized defensive structure.
Lindenwood's tactical approach emphasized quick transitions and wing play, utilizing the speed of their forwards to create mismatches against Southern Indiana's backline. The hosts attempted to counter with a more defensive stance, but struggled to maintain possession against Lindenwood's high-pressing system.
The victory further solidifies Lindenwood's position as one of the conference's top teams, improving their impressive record to 13-1-2. For Southern Indiana, the loss extends their difficult season (2-9-4), highlighting the need for offensive improvement as they've now been shut out in consecutive matches.
Looking ahead, both teams face quick turnarounds with matches on October 30. Lindenwood will host Eastern Illinois looking to extend their winning streak, while Southern Indiana travels to face UIW, seeking to end their current slide. The Lions' comprehensive performance in this match sends a clear message about their championship aspirations, while Southern Indiana will need to regroup quickly to salvage their remaining schedule.