At least the University of Evansville men's soccer team is getting its road games out of the way early. Four of UE's first five Missouri Valley Conference matches are on the road, and the next one comes Saturday night when the Purple Aces (8-3, 2-1) play at #22 Drake (6-3-1, 1-0). Kickoff in Des Moines is at 7 p.m.

The Aces have another road match Wednesday at Bradley, then begin a stretch of three consecutive home contests--against Creighton Oct. 17, Missouri State Oct. 21, and Drake Oct. 23 on the Fox Soccer Channel National Game of the Week. It will be the first nationally televised event from the University of Evansville campus.

Evansville and Drake have the top two winning percentages among the six MVC teams in league play. The Aces have already completed a league sweep of Eastern Illinois (2-0 at Charleston, 2-1 at Evansville), sandwiched around a 2-1 loss last Saturday at Creighton. Tad Kreamalmeyer and Tom Irvin lead the Aces with 13 points each. Kreamalmeyer and Mike Luttrull are the Aces' goal leaders with five each. Evansville is ranked 18th nationally this week in scoring with 2.2 goals per match. Drake is ranked 22nd this week in the NSCAA national poll, and #1 in the Midwest Region. The Bulldogs are 2-0-1 in their last three outings, including a 3-1 win at Bradley last weekend to begin MVC play. Drake is just behind the Aces nationally in scoring, ranking 22nd with 2.11 goals per match.

Drake is coached by former University of Evansville assistant Sean Holmes, who led his Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time in school history. Evansville coach Mike Jacobs is well on his way to leading the Aces to their fourth consecutive winning season, a feat that hasn't occurred since 1992.