LIVE STATS VS. MASSACHUSETTS  |  LIVE STATS VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team will open its 2013 regular season this weekend at The Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic in Peoria, Ill.  The Purple Aces open the weekend with a 4:30 p.m. match against Massachusetts Friday, before taking on New Hampshire Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
 
Evansville earned a win and a draw in its two exhibition matches, defeating Belmont, 3-0, before playing Indianapolis to a scoreless tie.  Senior Brandon Causey led the Aces with three points on a goal and an assist in the win over the Bruins, while junior Patrick Hodges and sophomore Mark Anthony Gonzalez combined for the other two UE goals.
 
In the draw with UIndy, juniors Joel Craig and Nick Schroeder, and freshman Jared Robinson all attempted three shots to lead Evansville offensively.  Junior goalkeeper Eric Teppen earned the clean sheet against Belmont and recorded a save in his 65:46 between the posts against the Greyhounds.
 
Massachusetts returns 13 letterwinners, including six starters from its 2012 squad that finished 5-11-2 and 2-7-0 in the Atlantic 10.  The Minutemen return their top scorer in Josh Schwartz, who led the team with 12 points, five goals and two assists last season.  In addition, Schwartz was named to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team by College Sports Madness.
 
New Hampshire finished 7-7-6 overall in 2012 and posted a 2-3-2 record in the America East Conference.  The Wildcats return 20 letterwinners from last season, including leading scorer Robert Palumbo.  Palumbo appeared in 19 games for UNH and tied for the team lead by scoring three goals and recording a pair of assists for eight points.  Goalkeeper Travis Worra also returns after an impressive 2012 campaign, where he finished 7-4-6 with a .821 save percentage and 0.81 goals against average.