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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team will travel to Clarksville, Tenn., Wednesday night for the first of its two preseason matches, when the Purple Aces take on Austin Peay at 7 p.m.
 
Evansville, who finished 5-8-3 overall and 4-1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, returns 11 letterwinners, including eight starters from last year's team that claimed the 2012 MVC regular-season championship.  UE also adds 12 newcomers to its 2013 squad.
 
Senior Stephanie Thompson and sophomores Kayla Smith and Abby Springer return as the Aces' top offensive players, while senior Lauren Tiernan, juniors Taylor Brand and Tatiana Pagan, and sophomore Simone Busby are expected to lead Evansville defensively.
 
Thompson earned All-MVC First Team honors last season after scoring 12 points on five goals and two assists to tie for the team lead.  The Evansville native also fired a team-best 43 shots, putting 20 on goal.  Springer tied Thompson with 12 points, five goals and two assists to earn MVC Freshman of the Year accolades, while Smith racked up nine points on four goals and an assist to earn a spot on the MVC All-Freshman Team.
 
Brand led UE's defense to six shutouts and a 1.21 goals against average last season on her way to earning All-MVC Second Team recognition, while Busby was one of the nation's top goalkeepers, posting a .918 save percentage and 0.48 goals against average to rank in the top 10 in the country in both categories.  The Chattanooga, Tenn., native was named the MVC Goalkeeper of the Year in addition to earning nods on the All-MVC First Team and MVC All-Freshman Team.
 
Austin Peay returns a pair of starters from last season's squad that went 12-8-1 and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 7-2-1 mark.  The Lady Governors return starters in seniors Natalia and Tatiana Ariza.  Tatiana was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Year last season after scoring 12 goals and dishing out eight assists, while Natalia was named First Team All-OVC.
 
The Aces will wrap up their preseason slate Sunday, August 18, when they travel to Wright State, before opening the regular season Friday, August 23, when they host Murray State at Arad McCutchan Stadium at 6 p.m.