EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With a 5-3-0 record, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team opens Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, traveling to SIU Edwardsville Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. start.
HISTORY
Evansville and SIUE have met 12 times in history, dating back to 1979. From 1979-88, the pair battled every season, ending in a 4-4-2 series record. After a 20-year hiatus, the squads met again in 2009. The Cougars edged UE, 1-0, at Arad McCutchan Stadium in the season-opener, but Evansville returned the favor on Oct. 13, 2010 with a 1-0 victory of their own at home. The all-time series stands even at 5-5-2.
CATCH THE ACTION
SCOUTING THE COUGARS (6-3-2, 0-0 MVC)
SIU Edwardsville had its three-match winning streak snapped Tuesday with a, 2-1, loss at Cincinnati. Tying Wisconsin (1-1) and topping Belmont (2-0), Lipscomb (3-2), and Dayton (1-0), SIUE hadn’t lost since Sept. 16th, a 3-2 double overtime loss to UIC. The Cougars top-scorer, Jack Twellman, tallied his eighth goal of the season in the Cincinnati loss. He leads SIUE with 17 points this fall (8g, 1a), followed by Matt Polster (1g, 5a, 7pts). The reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Week Scott Meyer has played all 1048:35 minutes in net, recording a 1.12 GAA, 42 saves, and a .764 save percentage with two shutouts. As a team, the Cougars have outscored their opposition, 19-13, and outshot them 138-113. SIUE competed in Evansville’s ProRehab Aces Classic, taking the title with a win over Eastern Illinois and draw with Marist College on Sept. 9th and 11th.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES (5-3-0, 0-0 MVC)
With a 12-day break between contests, its longest of the season, Evansville comes off a 4-1 win at Belmont University on Sept. 25. The Aces have won four of their last five games, the only loss being a tough 3-2 defeat at No. 21 Kentucky. As a team, Evansville has outscored its opponents, 17-10, with equal shot opportunities, 97-97. Junior
Jesse Sharp (14 points) and freshman
Ryan Stallings (5g, 2a, 12pts) lead the Aces’ offense. In addition, freshman
Dylan Terry and senior
Jarrett Robbins have each tallied two goals this fall. Freshman goalkeeper
Eric Teppen has definitely made a mark in his first collegiate season, owning a 4-2-0 record with a 0.99 GAA, 35 saves, and .854 save percentage. In his short career, he has already earned conference and national honors, earning a spot on College Soccer News’
National Team of the Week, as well as being named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19th.
SHARP SHOOTER
In every match UE has scored at least one goal (6-of-8 matches),
Jesse Sharp has recorded points in each of those contests, having a hand in 10 of UE’s 17 goals. Sharp leads Evansville with four goals, including two game-winners, six assists, and 14 points this season.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Head coach
Mike Jacobs has led his squad to a winning record in five of his six seasons at the helm when heading into the first non-conference match of the season. The only year the Aces did not was in 2010 when UE was 4-5-1. This season, UE will be 5-3-0 entering the first MVC match.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
In this week’s NCAA rankings, UE ranks 18th nationally in scoring offense (2.13) and 37
th in total goals (17).
Jesse Sharp ranks 11th in assists/game (.63), 18th in total assists (5), and 27
th in points per game (1.63).
Ryan Stallings is 35th in the nation in goals per game (.63) and
Eric Teppen ranks 11th in saves/game (5.83) and 18
th for save percentage (.854).
