After gearing up for the season with three exhibition matches, the University of Evansville men's soccer team begins the regular season this weekend with two matches at the University of Kentucky Invitational in Lexington. The Aces take on the University of Detroit Friday at 4:00 CDT, and Central Arkansas Sunday at 11 a.m.

Coach Mike Jacobs' men are picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Purple Aces have eight starters back from last season's 10-5-3 team, and four were chosen earlier this month for the MVC Pre-Season Team–goalkeeper Alec Dufty, defender Kipp Erskine, forward Mike Luttrull and midfielder Robby Lynch. The Aces went 2-1 in their three August friendlies, losing at Louisville 2-0 before beating the University of Southern Indiana and Bellarmine by 3-0 scores. Under Jacobs' leadership, Evansville produced the nation's most improved record in 2006. Last season, the Aces finished sixth nationally in scoring and reached the MVC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1999.

Evansville plays Detroit in the first match of the UK Invitational. Detroit was just 5-10-5 last season, but the Titans stunned 2007 NCAA runnerup Ohio State 1-0 in an August 19 exhibition match at Columbus.