Boxscore

It had been 13 years since the University of Evansville soccer team won 11 matches or more. Now the Aces have their 11th of 2009, and they'll be looking for more Friday afternoon when they play Missouri State in the semifinals of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Des Moines, Iowa.

First half goals by Tom Irvin and Robby Lynch were enough to give Evansville a 2-1 victory over Bradley on Saturday at UE's Black Beauty Field in the final match of the regular season for both teams. UE finished 5-4-1 in the league, and will go into Friday's tournament semifinals with an 11-7-1 overall record. That's the biggest win total since the 1996 squad went to the NCAA Tournament and finished with an 18-5 record. Evansville finished in a tie with Creighton for third place in the league.  The Aces go into the tournament as the #4 seed, and will play league champion Missouri State Friday at 3:30.  #2 Drake and #3 Creighton follow at 6:00, and the winners meet Sunday at 1:00 for the MVC championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Irvin put the Aces on the board first on Saturday at 23:23 when he slipped around a defender, got a good look at the goal, and rifled a shot past Bradley goalkeeper Kyle Orne from 22 yards out. Lynch made it a 2-0 match just seven seconds before the end of the half when his header found the back of the net, following a corner kick. Irvin, Lynch, Tad Kreamalmeyer and Mike Luttrull each have five goals this season to lead Evansville.

Bradley got back into the game in the final seven minutes when MVC scoring leader Chris Cutshaw connected for his 10th goal of the year over Evansville keeper Phil Boerger from the 18, but the Aces' defense held off the Braves to preserve the 11th victory. The Aces finished with 20 shots, and eight on goal. Bradley had 14 shots, with two on goal.