EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s soccer program is set to kickoff another season Thursday when they play host to Western Kentucky University for an exhibition match. The Purple Aces will commence the 2011 season at 7:00 p.m. CT on Black Beauty Field at Arad McCutchan Stadium on UE’s campus.

With more than 80 percent of their scoring returning from a team that reached the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals last November, there’s reason for optimism with the 2011 Aces.

The offense begins with sophomore Breana Beine, the MVC Freshman of the Year who was first team all-conference. She booted in a team-high seven goals. Classmate Kaitlin Robinett spent most of her freshman year as a defender, but moved to forward late in the year and finished second in scoring to earn honorable mention all-MVC honors and a place on the MVC All-Freshman Team. The third returning all-MVC player is senior Sam Conrad, UE’s leader on defense the past two years. Junior goalkeeper Chaviel Harrison is also back after setting a UErecord by stopping 116 shots. Head coach Krista McKendree is hoping a more experienced team means a less busy goalkeeper.

“One of the biggest differences and positives this year is the amount of returning high impact minutes we have,” according to McKendree. “All of our returners have been involved heavily on the field for us in their time here, which means they’ve already gone through the huge learning curve.”

Kasey Cartwright (2-1-5), Dani Langness (1-1-3) and Olivia Robinson (0-0-0) are UE’s most veteran players in the midfield. Also returning to the starting lineup are sophomore forward Stephanie Thompson (2-3-7) and sophomore defender Lauren Tiernan (1-2-4). McKendree is also looking for help from junior forward Kristen Davis, UE’s top scorer in 2009 with five goals. There are also nine freshmen and Auburn University transfer Tasha Prentice who will push the veterans for playing time.

“I believe that we have compiled a team that is capable of competing very well and challenging for the conference,”McKendree says. “They all know how difficult college soccer is and that success does not come easily. At the end of the day, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of our coaching staff to prepare our team for every game.”

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
Western Kentucky returns a full squad from the 2010 team that went 9-8-3 and 6-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Hilltoppers have 23 returning letterwinners and 10 starters, including first team all-conference selection Mallory Outerbridge (R-Sr., F, 10G, 4A), and second team picks Libby Stout (Sr., GK, 1.06 GAA, 8 SO), Kaylyn Pratt (Sr., D, 20 GP, 19 GS), and Sydney Sisler (Sr., M/D, 20 GS, 3G, 2A). In 2010, Evansville and WKU played each other in the regular season on Sept. 3. UE fell 4-0 in the non-conference road contest.