EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Hosting the 24th annual ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic this weekend, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team welcomes Marist, Eastern Illinois, and SIU Edwardsville to Black Beauty Field at Arad McCutchan Stadium. The Purple Aces take on Marist Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT and Eastern Illinois Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
KICK IT FOR THE CURE
Sunday’s contest marks Evansville’s “Kick It For The Cure” match. The UE players will wear pink jerseys and half of ticket sales along with all proceeds from auction items will go to the Greater Evansville Susan G. Komen Foundation.
TAKE A KID TO A GAME
Sunday is also the NCAA “Take a Kid to a Game.” Youth receive free admission with a paid adult. Click here for the free youth admission voucher.
MATCH SCHEDULE
SCOUTING MARIST (2-1-0, 0-0 MAAC)
The Red Foxes enter the weekend with a 2-1 record after wins over Army (6-4) and Adelphi (3-1) and a loss to Northeastern (0-2). Marist made an appearance in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire North Atlantic Regional Rankings on Monday. The Red Foxes were voted sixth in the region after the team's victory over Adelphi on Sunday, Sept. 4. Junior Stephan Brossard leads the Red Foxes’ offense with four goals and two assists, while senior Krystian Witkowski (two goals) is the only other multi-goal scorer. Goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny has played all 270:00 minutes in the net with a 2.33 GAA and .562 save percentage.
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS (2-1-0, 0-0 Summit League)
The Panthers are off to a 2-1 start with wins over Northwestern and Central Arkansas, playing all three of their matches this season into an overtime period. EIU's only loss was in overtime at Bradley on Sept. 1. Freshmen Jake Brillhart (2g, 0a, 4pts) and Will Butler (1g, 1a, 3pts) pilot the Panthers’ attack, while junior goalkeeper Evan Turner has played 242:25 minutes with a 1.49 GAA and .733 save percentage. A young team, 13 of the team's 17 points – including five of the team's six goals – have been tallied by newcomers. Evansville leads the all-time series between the squads, 15-9-4, winning the last five straight meetings.
EVANSVILLE (1-1-0, 0-0 MVC)
The Aces enter the weekend with a 1-1 record after competing in the University of Kentucky Invitational last week. UE topped IUPUI, 2-0, in the season-opener, then fell to Wright State, 2-0. Junior
Jesse Sharp and sophomore
Alex Kapsalis were named to the UK Invitational all-tournament team.
SHARP SHARP
Junior
Jesse Sharp was named to the all-tournament team at the University of Kentucky Invitational, leading Evansville to a 2-0 victory over IUPUI in the season-opener. Sharp tallied an assist on each of UE’s goals, while taking four shots on the week.
TIP TOP TEPPEN
Freshman Eric Teppen recorded a shutout in his first collegiate contest, leading Evansville to a 2-0 win over IUPUI. Teppen piloted the UE defense that held the Jaguars shotless in the first half and to just three shots total in the match. The Evansville, Ind. native tallied one save in the match, playing all 90:00 minutes. Going back at least a decade, Teppen marks the first UE freshman goalkeeper to record a shutout in his first collegiate start.
SHUTOUT AND SHOTLESS
The Aces held IUPUI shotless in the first half of their, 2-0, season-opening win. Prior to then, the last time UE held an opponent shotless in a half was Sept. 17, 2010 versus Xavier. The Musketeers did not get a shot off in the second period of the match that ended in a 0-0 tie. Prior to Evansville’s win over IUPUI, the last time UE shutout its opponent in the season-opener was in 2008 when Evansville topped Detroit, 2-0.
ACES SOCCER CLASSIC HISTORY
In the 24 years of the Aces Soccer Classic, the Purple Aces have taken the title eight times. UE has won it for each of the past three years and looks to capture its fourth straight title this weekend. This is the 11th straight year in which ProRehab has been the title sponsor for the Aces Soccer Classic. The event began in 1986 and has been played each year with the exception of 1989 and 2000. Evansville's eight titles came in 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
