Sunday Showdown: Lindenwood Hosts DePaul
The Lindenwood Lions women's soccer team will open its home schedule on Sunday, August 23, when they welcome Big East opponent DePaul at Dave Steward Field in St. Charles, Missouri. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m., and the game marks the second straight home appearance for the Lions, who are looking to turn a modest 11‑5‑4 record on their own turf into a springboard for a deeper postseason run.
Lindenwood entered the season with high expectations, having been tabbed as preseason favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference and earning nine of the sixteen first‑place votes. After a 1‑0 victory over Bellarmine to start the campaign, the squad fell into a two‑game skid, dropping shutouts to St. Louis University and Illinois State. The early losses have placed a premium on the upcoming match as a chance to regain confidence.
Coach Mackenzie Compton, whose 151 career shots rank among the most in Lindenwood history since 2011, is expected to anchor the attack. Her presence on the field often draws double‑teams, creating space for younger forwards to exploit. The Lions' offensive output has averaged 11.7 shots per game over the first three contests, even as they concede a similar number to opponents.
DePaul's Early Momentum
DePaul arrives in St. Charles riding a 1‑0‑1 start to the season, with sophomore forward Shayna da Silva already making an impact. Da Silva has logged four points — one goal and two assists — while taking five shots, three of which have been on target. The Blue Demons finished last season with a 4‑12‑2 record and were projected to finish tenth in the Big East preseason poll, making their early surge all the more noteworthy.
The upcoming contest will mark the third meeting between the two programs, with previous encounters in Chicago ending in DePaul victories — 2‑0 in 2024 and 3‑1 in 2022. Those results add a layer of narrative intrigue, as Lindenwood seeks to reverse the trend on home soil.
Looking ahead, the Lions will travel to face Evansville on Thursday, August 27, at 6:00 p.m., a road test that could further shape their early conference standings.