EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Following a two-match exhibition slate, the University of Evansville men's soccer team opens its regular season on Friday and Sunday with a trip to Utah.

The Purple Aces begin the 2018 season on Friday night at 8 p.m. (CT) with a showdown with host Utah Valley in Orem, Utah. On Sunday, Evansville closes out their time in Utah with a matchup with UNLV in Orem at 11:30 a.m. (CT). 

"When you look at Utah Valley and UNLV, you see two perennial powers in the WAC," said Aces' head men's soccer coach Marshall Ray. "Last year, UNLV finished third and a couple of years ago, UNLV was in the tournament. From a competition standpoint, we'll be tested. We played Utah Valley at Bradley's tournament a couple years ago, it was a great match, and that's how we got invited to this invitational."

Evansville and the UVU Wolverines are meeting for just the second time in series history. The first matchup, on September 2, 2016, was won by then 16th-ranked, 4-2, in The Hotels at Grand Prairie Series in Peoria, Ill.. The Wolverines are coming off a 6-10-2 overall record in 2017. 
 

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UE at Utah Valley (Friday, 8 p.m. (CT)):  Live Video | Live Stats | Utah Valley Website
UE vs. UNLV (Orem, Utah) (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. (CT)): Live Video | Live Stats | UNLV Website

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Despite not having much history against Utah Valley, the Aces' are much more familiar with their second opponent of the weekend. Evansville and UNLV first met in 1983 and have played five total matches against one-another. The last time the two sides met, UE earned a 2-1 overtime victory over the Rebels on September 13, 2002, in the New Mexico Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.. UNLV owns a 2-1-2 advantage in the all-times series and are 2-0 in matches taking place in Utah. The Rebels are looking to build off an 11-9-1 campaign a season ago that saw UNLV advance to the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. A member of the Rebels' coaching staff is also familiar with the Aces. UNLV men's soccer director of operations Frank D'Amelio played a pair of seasons for the Purple Aces in 1977 and 1978, earning honorable mention all-region honors in 1979 and being named Aces' team most valuable player both seasons he wore the Purple and White.

"Obviously two wins would be the ideal result to come out of the weekend, but I think that in the long run its a look towards building for conference play which is probably the most important for us this year," said Aces' junior Jesse Stafford-Lacey on what Evansville is looking to get out of this weekend. "I think if we can get everyone in and working hard and playing well and just get the confidence levels up at the start of the season like we did last year and start well and start quick and then bring that into the middle of the season and on to the end I think that's probably the most important thing for this trip.
 

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