University of Evansville incoming freshmen Richard Menjivar and Bobby Reiss appeared on national television recently. The soccer standouts played for LAFC in the US Soccer Developmental Academy National Championships on Friday (see story below), going down in defeat to the Baltimore Bays, 4-2. The match was televised nationally by ESPN2, and Menjivar was named to the US Soccer Developmental Academy "Best XI", an 11-man all-star team comprised of the best players in the country.

Both will play for coach Mike Jacobs' Purple Aces this season. Menjivar is a midfielder from Panorama City, California. Reiss is from Palmdale, California, and will play in the midfield or on defense for the Aces. They are among the 10 newcomers who will join 15 veterans in training camp next month. The first exhibition match is August 16 at the University of Louisville, and the regular season begins August 29 at the University of Kentucky Classic.

The Aces are coming off a 10-win season in 2007, their best since 1999. They finished sixth nationally in scoring with 45 goals. UE climbed two places in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, finishing third behind two teams that reached the NCAA Sweet 16. UE also reached the MVC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1999, and received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for posting a team grade point average of better than 3.0.



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