FULL MVC RELEASE

ST. LOUIS – Junior Taylor Brand and sophomore Simone Busby were honored by the Missouri Valley Conference this week, as the duo was selected as the MVC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week and the MVC Women's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.
 
Brand earned MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third-straight week for her efforts in Evansville's three matches this week, as she once again led the Purple Aces' back line.  Brand and the UE defense allowed just two goals in over 295 minutes this week and posted a shutout in Friday's win over IUPUI.  Despite being a player down Wednesday night at Xavier, Evansville held the Musketeers to just one goal and only three shots on goal after halftime.  Friday against the Jaguars, Brand made a potential goal-saving tackle inside the box to break up a breakaway opportunity in the final minutes of regulation and in the Aces' third match of the week at St. Louis, Brand and the UE back line faced a barrage of shots, but limited the Billikens to seven shots on goal and preserved a 1-1 tie by successfully defending six corner kicks.
 
Busby was named the MVC Goalkeeper of the Week for the first time this season by racking up 16 saves in UE's three games and allowing just two goals for a 0.61 goals against average.  The sophomore goalkeeper collected eight saves in a 1-0 loss at Xavier, including a save of a penalty kick in the 22nd minute to keep the game scoreless.  The Chattanooga, Tenn., native recorded her second shutout of the year by making two saves in an overtime victory over IUPUI, before tallying six saves in the draw at St. Louis.  On the season, Busby has allowed four goals for a 0.64 goals against average and has racked up 22 saves.
 
Evansville will be on its home pitch at Arad McCutchan Stadium this weekend, when it hosts Belmont Friday night at 6 p.m. and in-state rival Valparaiso Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.