EVANSVILLE, Ind.--Black Beauty Field has always treated the Aces well, and it happened again Friday night when the University of Evansville won its home opener in women's soccer over Western Illinois, 3-0.  The Aces were 7-1 at home last season.

Coach Chris Pfau's Aces are now 3-1-0.  Western Illinois is 2-1-0.

"With four games in seven days, we wanted to play a lot of people, and we were able to do that," said Coach Chris Pfau.  "We took advantage of our opportunities early tonight, and that seemed to set the tone."

UE jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, including the opening goal only 1:43 into the match when Danielle Brand took a pass from Kayla Lambert and booted a shot off a Western Illinois defender and into the goal.  Then at 36:25, Julie Winkler dribbled around two defenders and found a wide open Rocky Hearst 25 yards out on the left side.  Hearst got past WIU goalkeeper Julie Remes and scored on the open goal.  The Aces scored the final goal at 57:37 when Kayla Lambert and Kaitlynn Radtke set up a wide open Heidi Grey on the right side, and Grey finished it off with her team-leading fourth goal of the young season.

Freshman goalkeeper Theresa Bagby made three saves and improved to 2-1 on the season.  Western Illinois outshot Evansville 12-8, but Evansville had a slight 5-4 edge in shots on goal.

Game two of the Aces' four-match homestand is Tuesday when they host Southeast Missouri at Black Beauty Field beginning at 7:00 CDT.