FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Head coach Mike Jacobs didn't get a victory on his 38th birthday, but his University of Evansville soccer team wasn't on the losing end, either.  

In fact, Michigan State goalkeeper Jeremy Clark turned away Richard Menjivar's penalty kick midway through the second half, allowing the 20th ranked and defending Big 10 champion Spartans to hold on for a 0-0 draw against the Purple Aces in an exhibition match here Thursday night. 

UE opens the regular season at home Tuesday against SIU Edwardsville.

The Aces' best opportunity to break the scoreless tie came in the 65th minute when sophomore forward Tyler Crawford was taken down in the penalty area.  Menjivar took the PK, but Clark stopped the shot and preserved the scoreless tie.

"The first half was pretty even, but we opened things up and dominated the second half," according to Jacobs. "Richie (Menjivar) and Reggie Edu played very well in the midfield for us, and Justin Sass was solid for us on defense.  We made the field bigger in the second half.  We spread out their midfielders a bit, and that gave us some scoring chances.  It was very encouraging to play so well against a team the caliber of Michigan State."

Jacobs used 18 players Thursday, including 14 veterans and four newcomers. With nine starters returning from a 9-7-2 team, Evansville is going after its fourth consecutive winning season in 2009. The Aces are ranked #43 nationally in the Top Drawer Soccer.com pre-season poll. Top Drawer's rankings include 48 teams, the number that will be selected for the NCAA Soccer Championship in November. Five UE opponents are ranked among the elite 48, led by perennial MVC power Creighton at #3. Indiana is sixth, North Carolina ninth, Michigan State 27th and Western Illinois 48th.