The spring season in collegiate soccer may not count in the record books, but it’s an important time of year at the University of Evansville. Because of that, Head Coach Mike Jacobs has scheduled perennial national powers Duke and Indiana along with regional elite Kentucky, Dayton and UNC-Wilmington.

The Aces’ only home match will take place this Sunday, Feb. 22 against Bellarmine University at the Goebel Soccer Complex at 12:00 noon.  UE plays March 1 against Duke at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., site of the NCAA Division I College Cup.  Two days later the Aces play a doubleheader at Wilmington, N.C. against Cape Fear Community College and UNC-Wilmington.  Then it’s on to Bloomington, Ind. for a match against Indiana University March 29 before ending the spring season against Dayton and Kentucky in a doubleheader April 18 at Lexington, Ky.

“With as many returning players as we have, our expectations are to play as many Top 25 caliber opponents in the spring exhibition season as possible,” Jacobs says.  “We reached the Top 25 ourselves last season for the first time since 1996, and playing teams at that level of competition allows us to keep the high standard that we have set for ourselves.”

The Purple Aces return seven all-Missouri Valley Conference players from last season's 9-7-2 squad, including first team forward Mike Luttrull, second team defender Reggie Edu, second team midfielder Robby Lynch, second team forward Tom Irvin, and All-Freshman Team members Richie Menjivar, Tyler Crawford and Tad Kreamalmeyer.

UE 2009 SPRING SCHEDULE
Feb. 22...BELLARMINE (Goebel Soccer Complex)...12:00 CT
March 1...Vs. Duke (Cary, N.C.)...12:00 CT
March 3...Vs. Cape Fear Community College (Wilmington, N.C.)...2:00 CT
March 3...At UNC-Wilmington...5:00 CT
March 29...At Indiana...4:00 CT
April 18...Vs. Dayton (Lexington, Ky.)...1:00 CT
April 18...At Kentucky...4:00 CT