The 36th year of University of Evansville soccer begins Tuesday, and for the first time since 2002, the season will get underway with a home match. Coach Mike Jacobs' Purple Aces take on Southern Illinois Edwardsville at 7:00 at Black Beauty Field.

Tuesday's match is designated as Aces Soccer Camp Night. All those wearing their Aces Soccer Camp jerseys will be admitted free, and accompanying adults will receive discounted tickets. The next youth event is Sept. 18, and includes U.S. Youth Soccer Night and North Evansville Youth Soccer Club. An autograph session will take place after each game.

This is one of the most experienced Evansville teams in yea rs, with nine starters and seven other lettermen returning from a squad that posted a 9-7-2 record against a schedule full of Top 25 teams. SIU Edwardsville is entering its final transition year to Division I, and will be a member of the Missouri Valley Conference in men's soccer in 2010. The Cougars were 5-8-1 last season, and are coming off a 0-0 tie in their final exhibition match last week against Illinois-Chicago, ranked #11 in the College Soccer News poll.

The Aces are also coming off a scoreless draw in their final pre-season game, last Thursday against #17 and defending Big 10 champion Michigan State.

"It's been a very encouraging pre-season," said Jacobs, whose squad is ranked #43 in the Top Drawer Soccer.com pre-season national poll. “We built a lot of momentum in Fort Wayne against Michigan State, and we hope to continue that against SIUE. They are a very disciplined and organized team, and I have a lot of respect for Kevin Kalish and the program he is rebuilding.”

Here's a look at the 2009 Evansville team:

FORWARDS

Junior Mike Luttrull (9-4-22) earned all-region and all-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2008 when he led the MVC in scoring with 1.83 points and 0.75 goals per game. Classmate Tom Irvin (3-11-17) was fourth nationally in assists, and a second team all-MVC selection. Sophomores Tyler Crawford (5-6-16) and Tad Kreamalmeyer (3-1-7) made the MVC All-Freshman Team. Beyond those four, there’s more. Kieran Purcell, a three-year starter on defense, moved up front this spring and led the Aces in scoring. Veteran Sam Bornstein provides depth at forward and in the midfield. A big addition to the squad in the spring season was junior Tyler Kincaid, a prep teammate of Luttrull who was all-conference twice at Division II St. Joseph’s College. Jacobs has also brought in attacking players Gavin Chura, Patrick Kalua and Jesse Sharp, giving the Aces their most depth up front in years.

MIDFIELDERS

All-region and two-time all-MVC player Robby Lynch (3-2-8) is the Aces’ leader in the middle of the field. Senior Reggie Edu is a co-captain this season with Lynch, and will play in the back four along with some time in the midfield. Crafty sophomore Richard Menjivar (1-7-9) joined Lynch on the all-MVC team last fall, and made the MVC All-Freshman Team along with Kreamalmeyer and Crawford. Senior Dan Gibson (0-4-4) has been a consistent contributor for three seasons. Sophomore Aaron Henkle, a transfer from Akron, figures to see significant playing time this fall as a midfielder or defender after being a key player for the nationally ranked Zips as a freshman last season.

DEFENDERS

Sophomore Justin Sass stepped into the central defender role right away as a freshman, and he will again man the middle. Sophomore Blake Schneider saw significant playing time in the midfield last season before moving to left back this spring. Sophomore Jarrett Robbins, one of the tallest players in UE soccer history at 6’7”, will compete with junior Mitch Mansfield to join Sass in the middle. Senior Ally Mackay gives the Aces experience, and freshman Cole Page will compete with the upperclassmen for playing time.

GOALKEEPERS

Sophomore Phil Boerger was the understudy in 2008 for Alec Dufty, who went on to play for the MLS New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew after his senior season. Although Boerger has only 180 collegiate minutes in goal, the former Parade All-American is already being compared to Dufty. Freshmen Robert Randant and Andrew Braun will be there to push Boerger for playing time.