EVANSVILLE – University of Evansville head men's soccer coach Marshall Ray unveiled a challenging 2016 schedule on Wednesday as preparations are in progress for his second season at the helm of the Purple Aces.

2016 Schedule

"Our program is anxiously awaiting the start of training camp later this summer, and we've been preparing for August 25th since January," Ray said. "Our staff and players have put in a tremendous amount of work on and off the field to lay a foundation for the upcoming season."
 
Over the course of a 19-game regular season, the Aces are slated to square off against eight teams that finished the 2015 campaign in the top 100 of the RPI, including five that ended inside the top 50. UE will also play three NCAA tournament opponents from a year ago in Utah Valley, Kentucky and Drake.
 
"We have put together a non-conference schedule that is going to prepare us for the rigors of the Missouri Valley Conference," Ray explained. "There is no question that we play in one of the most competitive leagues in the country, and in a given year, any of the seven teams can compete for the conference championship."
 
Following an exhibition match with IUPUI in Indianapolis on Aug. 20, the Aces will open the regular season with a road swing to close out the month at Xavier and Northern Kentucky, which combined for 20 victories a season ago. A week later, a trip to the Hotels at Grand Prairie Soccer Series in Peoria will see UE take on Utah Valley and Fairleigh Dickinson.

"Playing the first four matches against quality opponents on the road will test our young team, but I'm confident that it will allow us to grow as a group," Ray said. "Developing those relationships on the field in August and September will only benefit us as the schedule moves into October and November."
 
From there, the Aces will return home to the friendly confines of Arad McCutchan Stadium for the annual ProRehab Classic for matches against Portland and IPFW on Sept. 9 and 11, which mark the first of nine home matches for UE on the season.

"One of the biggest components to our program is our support," Ray said. "We are looking forward to competing in front of our fans once again this season and showing the fight and determination that has epitomized our great teams of the past."

Missouri Valley Conference play will begin a week later as UE will bookend a trip to Butler with league matches at Bradley and against Central Arkansas.
 
Marshall, Missouri State and Kentucky will each pay a visit to Evansville before the Aces set off for another game against UCA, this time on the road. A brief stop back at McCutchan to take on Loyola will be followed up with road trips to Belmont and Drake. Lipscomb, MSU and SIUE will round out the regular season.
 
The MVC Men's Soccer Championship will take place at Betty and Bobby Allen South Stadium on the campus of MSU from Nov. 9-13.  

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