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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team will return to Arad McCutchan Stadium this weekend for a pair of matches against Belmont and in-state rival Valparaiso.  The Purple Aces will welcome the Bruins to Evansville Friday at 6 p.m., before hosting the Crusaders for a matinee Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Evansville (3-2-1) played Saint Louis to a 1-1 draw in its last outing, a match that marked the third in five days for the Aces.  Senior Stephanie Thompson scored her third goal of the year in the tie and sophomore goalkeeper Simone Busby collected six saves. 
 
Busby and junior defender Taylor Brand both collected Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors for their efforts in UE's three-match stretch, as Busby was named the MVC Goalkeeper of the Week and Brand was tabbed the MVC Defender of the Week for the third-consecutive week.  Busby allowed just two goals and made 16 saves on the week, while Brand led a defensive unit that allowed just two goals in over 295 and made a potential goal-saving tackle inside the box to break up a breakaway opportunity for IUPUI in Friday night's match.
 
Thompson leads the Aces this season with six points on three goals, freshman Emily Griebel ranks second on the squad with four points on a pair of goals and sophomore Kayla Smith has bolstered UE's offense with three points on a goal and one assist.  In goal, Busby has posted a 0.64 goals against average, .846 save percentage, 22 saves and a pair of shutouts.
 
As a team, Evansville has outshot its opponents, 105-74, and has limited opposing teams to just 26 shots on goal.  The Aces have yet to allow a goal in the second half or beyond, while netting four goals past the halftime whistle so far this season.
 
Belmont (2-2-0) is coming off a 3-0 victory over Alabama State Sunday in Nashville, Tenn., a match in which the Bruins got three goals from three different players and outshot the Hornets, 35-3.  Sydney Omweg scored the first goal for BU in the 31st minute, while Emily Epley and Emily Jones each added insurance goals in 54th and 69th minutes, respectively.
 
Individually, six different players have scored for Belmont and all six are tied for the team lead with two points.  Kim Elmore and Elise DeTrude have each been credited with an assist to round out the scoring for the Bruins.  Cassie Blasé has attempted a team-high 11 shots, putting seven on goal, while three other BU players have each fired seven shots.  Nicole Berner has been the primary goalkeeper for Belmont and enters Friday's match with a 2.34 goals against average, .654 save percentage and 17 saves.
 
The Bruins have been outscored, 9-6, this season, but have outshot opposing teams, 67-35.  In addition, BU has earned 18 corner kicks, while conceding 17 and has put 34 of its 67 shot attempts on goal.
 
Valparaiso (4-2-0) will take a two-match winning streak to IUPUI Friday night, before making the trip to McCutchan Stadium Sunday afternoon.  The Crusaders have had each of their six matches decided by a 1-0 final this season, after defeating Northwestern and IPFW by 1-0 margins last week on their home field.  Katriona Anesini found the back of the net in the 33rd minute for the game-winner against the Wildcats and Hailey Chmela scored the lone goal of the match in the 20th minute in Valpo's win over the Mastodons.
 
Chmela and Jordyn Ryfiak have each scored a goal and been credited with an assist for a team-high three points.  Anesini and Rita Craven have combined for Valparaiso's other two goals and are tied for third on the squad with two points apiece.  Goalkeeper Kristen Manski has allowed just two goals in 562:49 for a 0.32 goals against average and a .929 save percentage to go with her 26 saves and four shutouts.
 
As a team, the Crusaders have been outshot by a wide 75-49 margin, but have held their opponents to just two goals on the year.  In addition, Valpo has limited opponents to a .387 shot on goal percentage.
 
Friday will mark the seventh meeting between Evansville and Belmont, with the Aces holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series.  The Bruins posted a 1-0 over UE last season in Nashville, Tenn., marking the first meeting between the two sides since 2008, when Evansville downed Belmont, 1-0, at McCutchan Stadium.
 
The Aces lead the all-time series with Valparaiso, 7-2-1, and defeated the Crusaders, 1-0, in the last meeting in 2011.  Valpo's last win over UE came in 2006, when it blanked Evansville, 3-0, in Valparaiso.