UE set to host 29th ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic

9/8/2016 4:09:00 PM

EVANSVILLE – Over the last 30 years, the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic has become an annual staple at Arad McCutchan Stadium, and it will kick off once again on Friday afternoon as the University of Evansville men's soccer team will welcome Portland, Fort Wayne and Bradley to campus.

The event, which has taken place all but two years since 1986, is serving as the home opener for the Aces for the second consecutive season, but just the fifth time in the history of the tournament. UE which is off to a 2-2 start for the first time since 2012, will be hoping to keep things rolling as the team is in search of its first Aces Soccer Classic title since 2013.

However, in order to get there, the UE will face stiff competition from three schools that are each making a return to the event. Bradley, the 2014 champion, will be in the hunt once again in their fifth-ever trip to the tournament. The Braves, who will not face UE this weekend, are 1-2-1 overall after splitting a pair of 1-0 decisions against Fairleigh Dickinson and 16^th-ranked Utah Valley at last week's Hotels at Grand Prairie Classic. Meanwhile, Portland, which is making its fourth trip to the tournament, is 3-1-0 after a pair of impressive victories over Ohio State and San Jose State last week. Fort Wayne, on the other hand, is 2-2-0 and split with Western Michigan and Green Bay on the road last weekend.

UE, which moved up to the No. 10 spot in the NSCAA west region rankings earlier this week, will be hoping for some continued production at the front of the attack. Jared Robinson, one of just two seniors on this year's team, is tied for the team lead in points with a pair of goals and an assist on the year. Ian McGrath, an All-MVC honorable mention a year ago, also has the same total, and Zac Blaydes is the leading distributor in the squad with two assists.

Freshmen Ian Gammon and Ben Weber have also chipped in, scoring a goal apiece in the opening weekend victory over Northern Kentucky.

Defensively, the centerback duo of Trevor Baum and Chris Shuck have been stout at the base of UE's spine, helping the team and freshman goalkeeper Frederik Reimer log two clean sheets in the first four matches for the first time since 2010.

Kickoff on Friday evening for UE is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES: UE will be opening its home schedule with the Aces Soccer Classic for just the fifth time in history … Previously, UE opened its home slate at the event in 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2014 … UE is 1-3-0 overall in home openers that take place in the tournament … Since 1976, UE is 31-9-0 overall in home season openers … The Aces hold a 36-16-3 all-time record in the Aces Soccer Classic … Bradley is 5-2-1, Portland is 2-3-0, and Fort Wayne is 1-1-0 in the event … UE has won the tournament nine times … The last UE title came in 2013.

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