Complete Game Notes
Game #19: Truman State (7-6-5) vs. No. 6 Lincoln (14-0-4)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Site: Springfield, Mo.
Venue: Cooper Sports Complex
Tickets: https://glvcsports.com/sports/2021/11/11/CHAMPS_1111215206.aspx
Live Stats: https://glvcsports.com/sidearmstats/msoc
Live Video: https://www.glvcsn.com
 
THE KICK OFF:  The Lincoln men's soccer team plays for its first-ever GLVC tournament championship on Sunday (Nov. 8) when the Blue Tigers take on Truman State at Cooper Sports Complex in Springfield, Mo. at 12:00 p.m. CST. The Blue Tigers won the GLVC regular season title after finishing as the only conference team without a loss and are ranked No. 6 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches Division II poll. Lincoln, which is the top seed in the GLVC Men's Soccer Championship, beat Rockhurst in a home quarterfinal match, 1-0, before defeating Indianapolis, 3-1, on Friday (Nov. 6). Truman State, the No. 7 seed in the tourney, is also seeking its first GLVC tournament title and advanced after wins over Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis.
 
QUICK KICKS
- Over the past three seasons, Lincoln is 2-0-1 vs. Truman State.
 
- The Blue Tigers and the Bulldogs met back on Sept. 20 in Kirksville, Mo., playing to a 3-3 draw.
 
- Lincoln beat Truman State, 2-1, on the road in 2024, and defeated the Bulldogs at home, 3-2, in 2025.
 
PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Jonathan Nemorden leads Lincoln with 26 points, as he has scored 12 goals and tallied two assists. Makwe Nkoana has four goals on the season and Jerome Lawel has six goals and eight assists. All three players have earned GLVC Offensive Player of the Week accolades this season. In goal, Felipe Mattos has six shutouts and 36 saves.
 
HEAD COACH SAMMY SAMUELS:  A proven winner, Sammy Samuels is in his third season as the head coach of the Lincoln men's soccer team. Last year, Samuels led the Blue Tigers to a 10-0-6 record in the regular season as well as a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. During five seasons as the head coach at Maine-Fort Kent, Samuels coached 13 All-Americans and posted a 53-12-8 record. During that span, UMFK won the 2022 USCAA national title and was the national runner-up in both 2019 and 2021.
 
LAST TIME OUT:  Jerome Lawel scored a goal and recorded two assists to lead the Blue Tigers to a 3-1 win over Indianapolis in the semifinals of the GLVC Championship tournament on Friday (Nov. 6). Junior Grizzelle and Makwe Nkoana scored the other goals and Theon Cupee also had an assist. Lincoln only allowed two shots on goal and held a 20-12 advantage in overall attempts.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:  Owen Robben has made 79 saves and allowed 29 goals as the primary keeper for Truman State, and he has played all but 2:49 minutes this season. Truman State's top scorer is Jacob Panagos, selected as the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year after tallying 15 goals and 31 overall points. Brady Lombardo is next for the Bulldogs with four goals. Roman Scognamillo has three.
 
UNDEFEATED:  For the second-straight year, the Blue Tigers enjoyed an unbeaten regular season. LU posted a 12-0-4 record this year after going 10-0-6 during the regular season in 2025. Lincoln has won or tied 34-straight regular season games.
 
ALL-GLVC:  Lincoln was well-represented when the GLVC released its postseason honors. Felipe Mattos was named the Goalkeeper of the Year and Jonathan Nemorden was named Freshman of the Year while Sammy Samuels was the Coach of the Year. Eight Blue Tigers earned All-GLVC recognition, including first team member Mattos, Nemorden, Jerome Lawel and Keynath Walters. Akwasi Agyepong, Alysson Portela Barboza and Junior Grizzelle made the All-GLVC second team and Makwe Nkoana was a third team selection.
 
GLVC CHAMPS:  The Blue Tigers were the only GLVC program to go unbeaten this season and won the regular season championship with 36 points. LU had six more points than Drury and Maryville, which tied for second with 30. The Blue Tigers went 7-0 at home and 5-0-4 away from Jefferson City.
 
BACK IN THE RANKINGS:  LU's unbeaten record has generated national notice, as Lincoln is ranked No. 6 in the country in this week's United Soccer Coaches Division II poll. The Blue Tigers are also No. 6 in the NPI, which is used for NCAA tournament seeding. Regionally, LU is ranked No. 1 in Super Region 3 and have a good chance to host an NCAA tournament match.
 
ON THE OFFENSIVE:  Three Blue Tigers have been named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week this year, including Jonathan Nemorden, who was honored on both Sept. 28 and Oct. 19. Makwe Nkoana picked up the honor after a three-goal week against William Jewell a& Lewis while Jerome Lawel was recognized for two goals vs. UMSL and an assist at Indianapolis.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE:  Lincoln has used two goalkeepers in 2026, and both have been named GLVC Defensive Players of the Week. Vincent Osei was honored on Sept. 14 after leading LU to a 3-1 win over Southwest Baptist. Felipe Mattos claimed the award on Sept. 28 after a dominant performance against Rockhurst.
 
LU IN THE NCAA:  Lincoln is 10th in NCAA Division II in in goal differential (+28), seventh in save percentage (.840) and ninth in goals allowed per match (0.7). Jonathan Nemorden is third in the country in game-winning goals (six) and Felipe Mattos has the second-best save percentage (.878). Lincoln's 40 goals scored rank 26th in Division II.
 
JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting all Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving the facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.
 
WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on their Blue Tigers to victory via the GLVC Sports Network. All seven Lincoln home games will be broadcast live and can be watched at https://www.glvcsn.com/lincolnbluetigers/.
 
GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all online sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.
 
NEXT UP:  The NCAA Division II tournament bracket will be released on Monday (Nov. 9) at 5:30 p.m. CST.