EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With its regular season opener in the rearview mirror, the University of Evansville women’s soccer team will open up the home portion of its schedule on Friday, playing host to Saint Louis University at 4:30 p.m. at Arad McCutchan Stadium.
 
Fans are reminded that the women’s game against SLU and the men’s contest against Lipscomb will each be available for free video streaming on AcesTV.
 
The Purple Aces open up the 2012 regular season this weekend against a pair of opponents from the Nashville, Tenn. area, beginning with Lipscomb on Friday before welcoming Belmont to Arad McCutchan Stadium on Sunday. Defense was the name of the game in exhibition play for the Aces as they allowed just one goal in a pair of games. In the opener against the University of Indianapolis, Dylan Terry scored to break a scoreless tie with just over a minute remaining to give the Aces the win. UE notched 14 shots while limiting Indy to just three shots on the night. On Sunday, Evansville took on Big 10 foe Wisconsin and played to a 1-1 tie. Terry was the star once again, scoring in the seventh minute of the play before the teams settled for the 1-1 draw.
 
Senior Jesse Sharp was recently named to the Preseason MVC All-Conference Team in a poll by the league coaches. The forward from Evansville led the Aces with 15 points last season. Sharp registered four goals and a team-high seven assists in 2011.
 
Friday will mark the season opener for Lipscomb, who returns 14 players from last year’s squad that put up a 4-12-3 mark. The Bison went 3-4-1 in the Atlantic Sun to place fifth and played to a solid 2-1-1 mark in home league games. Their top returner is El-Hindi
Zander, who played in all 19 games while registering three assists and 10 shots.
 
Belmont will open up the 2012 season on August 24 at MVC opponent Missouri State prior to making the trip to Evansville. The Bruins posted a 7-9-2 mark in 2011 while tying for seventh in the Atlantic Sun on the strength of a 2-4-2 mark. Eight out of 11 starters return this season while 11 newcomers are on the squad.
 
Fans will be treated to some extra soccer action this weekend as the Aces will host their first regular-season doubleheader in almost two years as the women host Saint Louis prior to the men opening their season up against Lipscomb. The last doubleheader for UE came in 2010 as the women played Illinois State and the men took on Creighton. The squads were 0-2 in those games, which took place on October 16, 2010.
 
Following the opening weekend of play, Evansville will take to the road on Sept. 1, squaring off against Georgia State. In two weeks, UE will be home for the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic. Evansville will take on Portland on Sept. 7 before facing Big East member Cincinnati on the 9^th.