MILWAUKEE -  University of Southern Indiana Men's Soccer opened up the 2026 season in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a 0-0 draw against the University of Milwaukee.

Thursday's 0-0 tie was the first time that USI has gathered a season-opening result since 2018, even before joining the Division I ranks in 2022. It is the first-time a Screaming Eagles opponent has been shut out since August 26, 2025 (Rose Hulman Institute of Technology). It is the first time since October 13, 2024 (University of the Incarnate Word) that USI has shut out a Division I program.  

The Screaming Eagles totaled 11 shots, five on goal. Senior defenders Ian Graham and Kris Martial and sophomore midfielder Oliver Church all tied with two shots, with one shot on goal. Junior midfielder Ahiro Nakamae and sophomore midfielder Nolan Stevens each added their own shot on goal.

In the defensive effort helping to post the team shutout, OVC Preseason Player to Watch senior midfielder Garrett Morris, sophomore defender Zach Naessens, and sophomore goalkeeper Jacob English all helped to keep the net clean on 16 shot attempts. English finished the day with six saves, the most in his career without giving up a goal in a single game.

USI came out prepared to defend their own goal with Naessens and Nakamae forcing a Milwaukee player to shoot a shot inside the box wide left in the first five minutes of play. The Screaming Eagles responded with a shot of their own coming from Stevens that was saved by Milwaukee's goalkeeper. After that, it was all defense for USI the rest of the half.   English gathered four saves, including a diving save at the 19th-minute mark. The Screaming Eagles were outshot 11 to three in the first half.

USI came out more aggressively in the second half. Oliver Church got too much of a header off of a corner kick that sailed just over the crossbar at the start of the second half. The Screaming Eagles were not done with their aggressive approach, however, adding three scoring chances in the next fourteen minutes, all of which were saved by Milwaukee's goalkeeper.

With nine minutes remaining in the match, USI evaded a counter by the Panthers that led to a corner kick that sailed over the Screaming Eagles' goal. English grabbed a save headed toward the goal off of a free kick. USI was not able to capitalize on the counter but managed to keep the Panthers on their own half for the rest of the match.

The Screaming Eagles will continue the away trip with a stop at Northern Kentucky University on Monday, August 24, before coming home for the home opener on September 2 against Indiana University Indianapolis.