EVANSVILLE, Ind. - After a weekend in Utah, the University of Evansville men's soccer team returns to the midwest to face a pair of regional foes on Friday and Sunday.

The Purple Aces open the weekend on Friday with a road showdown with Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m. in Charleston, Ill. before returning to Arad McCutchan Stadium for Evansville's regular season home opener against IUPUI at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. 

Evansville heads into the weekend after falling in a pair of matches in Utah last weekend. In its season opener, the Aces fell to host Utah Valley, 4-0, before dropping a match to UNLV, 4-1, on Sunday.

"We gave up eight goals and we're going to try to figure how we can still attack the way that we want to without leaving ourselves exposed for the counter attack," said Aces men's soccer head coach Marshall Ray on the preparations leading into the weekend. "We're still trying to be ourselves and also be a little more sound in the back."

For the 33rd time in series history, the Aces and Eastern Illinois will do battle on Friday. UE holds a 19-10-3 advantage in the series and are currently on an eight-match win-streak against the Panthers. In last season's meeting, the Aces earned a 2-0 victory over EIU at Arad McCutchan Stadium. The Panthers enter Friday's matchup after a regular season-opening road victory over Cincinnati on Monday as EIU recorded a pair of first half goals en route to a 2-0 win.
 

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UE at EIU (Friday, 4 p.m.): Live Stats | EIU Website
UE vs. IUPUI (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.): The Valley on ESPN (ESPN+) | Live Stats | IUPUI Website

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UE and IUPUI are meeting for the fourth time in a regular season match. The last meeting between the Aces and Jaguars came in a 1-0 Evansville win in an exhibition last season. In the last regular season meeting, the Aces grabbed a 2-0 victory over IUPUI on September 2, 2011 in the Kentucky Tournament. The Jaguars continue their sampling of the Missouri Valley Conference this weekend with a Friday matchup with Bradley before taking on the Aces. The Jaguars opened the season 0-1, after battling Valparaiso on the road, eventually falling to the Crusaders, 1-0, in double overtime.

Sunday's match is Youth Soccer Day at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Children 12 and under will have opportunity to participate in a complimentary pregame clinic with admission from 1:45 to 2:30. Children who wear their youth club team jersey to the match will receive discounted $3 admission, which is a $2 discount.
 

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