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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The University of Evansville men's soccer team is on the road this weekend to compete for the Veterans Memorial Cup. The tournament (Sept. 11-13) features Bowling Green, Evansville, Marshall and Robert Morris. The contests will be held at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex in Huntington, W.Va.
 
THE MATCHES:
Friday, Sept. 11
4:00 p.m. CDT – Evansville (1-2) vs. #24 Bowling Green (4-0)
6:30 p.m. CDT – Robert Morris (3-1) vs. Marshall (3-1)
 
Sunday, Sept. 13
11:00 a.m. CDT – #24 Bowling Green (4-0) vs. Robert Morris (3-1)
1:30 p.m. CDT - Evansville (1-2) vs. Marshall (3-1)
 
WHAT TO KNOW

• The Purple Aces are looking to record back to back wins for the first time this season.
• Evansville is eyeing their first in season tournament championship since claiming the 2013 ProRehab Aces Classic.
• With a  win, UE will have their first victory over a Top 25 ranked team since defeating #16 Butler 3-1 at home on Oct. 1, 2013.

 
THE OPPONENTS:
Bowling Green holds a perfect 4-0 record this season and just this week, was ranked #24 nationally by the NSCAA. The Falcons defeated Drexel 1-0 (Sept. 3) and Cleveland State 1-0 (Sept. 6) last weekend. BGSU has outscored their opponents 11-2 this season. They have 15 returning letterwinners including eight starters from last year.
 
Marshall is the host for the tournament and has won three of their four matches thus far. The Thundering Herd enter the weekend on a three game winning streak (Detroit Mercy, Duquesne, Liberty). This tournament will feature the first home matches of the season for the Thundering Herd. Marshall brings back 18 letterwinners from last season.
 
Robert Morris, like Marshall, is also off to a 3-1 start to begin the 2015 campaign. The Colonials were victorious in their first three matches before falling to Eastern Illinois 2-1 last weekend. RMU has outscored their opponents 8-4 this season.
 
HISTORY
Evansville holds the 10-2 edge in the all-time series with Bowling Green. This is the second neutral site meeting between the teams (BGSU won 1-0 in the Ohio State/Nike College Classic in 1998). This is the first meeting since 2006.
 

Date    Location                                 UE     Opp.      Result         

1979     Evansville, Ind.                      5          1          W

1980     Bowling Green, Ohio             2          1          W

1981     Evansville, Ind.                      1          0          W

1982     Bowling Green, Ohio             1          2          L

1983     Evansville, Ind.                      2          1          W

1984     Bowling Green, Ohio             4          2          W

1985     Evansville, Ind.                      4          0          W

1986     Bowling Green, Ohio             2          1          W

1988     Bowling Green, Ohio             1          0          W

1998     Neutral Site                            0          1          L

2005     Evansville, Ind.                      2          1          W

2006     Bowling Green, Ohio             4          1          W

 
LAST TIME OUT
UE won their final match of the ProRehab Aces Classic 2-1 over Belmont on Sept. 6. Freshman midfielder Cameron Cool netted his first career goal and sophomore midfielder/defender Ian McGrath's 82nd minute goal, a 22 yard straightaway blast, proved to be the game-winner. Sophomore goalkeeper Matthew Keller also recorded two saves for the Purple Aces.
 
NUMBER ONE
The Aces have a new head coach this season, Marshall Ray, who claimed his first win as UE men's soccer coach in the team's 2-1 win over Belmont (Sept. 6). A former player (1995-'99) at Evansville, Ray graduated from UE in 2000 and has served on the staff for nine years with the last six as Associate Head Coach.
 
IAN ON NBC
For the second time this season, a goal from McGrath has been featured on NBC Sports. His 35 yard strike against Mercer (Aug. 20) also appeared on the NBC Sports platforms.
 
GOAL-ZALEZ
Senior forward Mark Anthony Gonzalez leads UE with two goals this season and has scored in the first two matches of the season. He is also the team's active leader in goals with 22.
 
POSITIVE PRESEASON
The UE men's soccer team finished the preseason 2-1-0 including victories over Bellarmine and Mercer. McGrath and freshman forward Mikey Matic each tallied two goals each.
 
CALL FROM THE HALL
UE men's soccer player (1985-'87) Mick Lyon was announced as a 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Famer in August. He was the 1987 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American. Lyon was also the women's soccer head coach (1993-2001), winning nine MVC Championships.
 
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
Evansville's schedule features three NCAA Tournament teams from last year (Indiana, Kentucky, St. Louis). The Aces will take on two teams that finished in the final RPI top 25 last season (Indiana 16, St. Louis 22) and seven in the top 100 (Bowling Green 64, Butler 68, Missouri St. 76, Mercer 86, and Lipscomb 97).
 
PROMO SCHEDULE
Homecoming will occur on Sept. 26. Indiana Youth Soccer Night is Oct. 24 and Senior Night will take place Oct. 10
 
JOIN UEFC
New this season, UEFC is the membership supporters group for the men's soccer team. UEFC has five tiers with each offering different incentives. To learn more on UEFC and how you can join, fans are encouraged to visit GoPurpleAces.com and click on the Men's Soccer Page.