EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Back home for the first time in 14 days, the University of Evansville men's soccer team battles No. 9 Missouri State at 5 PM on Saturday evening at Arad McCutchan Stadium in Evansville, Ind.
 

Evansville vs. No. 9 Missouri State | Sat., Oct. 23 | 5 PM
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Previewing the Matchup

• A series filled with close contests as of late is renewed on Saturday for the 40th time with the Bears owning a 24-10-5 advantage in the all-time series.
• Meeting earlier this season in Springfield, Mo., Missouri State captured a 2-1 win over the Aces on Sept. 25.
• Seven of the last 10 meetings between the two sides have been decided by a goal or less, including the last three times the Aces and Bears met in Springfield. In games played at McCutchan Stadium, Missouri State has won three-straight by a combined score of 13-3.
• Evansville heads into the weekend contest on Saturday against No. 9 Missouri State having already played some tough competition this season. Five of the Aces opponents have been ranked at some point this season, including two currently ranked (Kentucky and Missouri State) and two more currently receiving votes (Indiana and Louisville).
• This season, much like last season, Evansville's attack has been keyed by players from Spain. Of the Aces nine goals this season have been scored by Spanish players with Pablo Guillen scoring three times and Carlos Barcia scoring twice.

Last Match: Indiana 2, Evansville 0

• Hanging with the 2021 National Runner-Up for much of the match, the University of Evansville men's soccer team battled a familiar foe before falling to Indiana, 2-0, on Wednesday evening in Bloomington, Ind.
• "Set piece goals were the difference in our match tonight. I'm pleased with the way we played; the shots and the opportunities that we created. Jose Vivas had another great game for us this evening," said Aces head men's soccer coach Marshall Ray. "But we have to correct our play on set pieces and get prepared for Missouri State at home in a very important MVC match."
• A trio of players from Spain led the attack on the evening for the Aces as junior Carlos Barcia and freshmen Jose Vivas and Jon Varela all tallied two shots on the night with each putting one on frame. In goal, redshirt-junior Jacob Madden again helped keep the Aces in the match for much of the contest, making four saves.
• An active first half for both sides attacks saw a combined 13 shots recorded by the Aces and Hoosiers with Evansville keeping pace with Indiana much of the way. In the 21st minute, Varela nearly broke the deadlock with a shot that was saved in the left corner by Indiana keeper Roman Celentano. Just three minutes later, it was Indiana who found the scoreboard first with Victor Bezerra scoring off an assist by Joe Schmidt in the 24th minute. Evansville would record five shots in the first half, but despite creating good opportunities could not equalize before the break.
• The second half began differently than the first 45 minutes as neither side recorded a shot in the first 16 minutes of the second period before Herbert Endeley's attempt for the Hoosiers was saved by Madden. Entering the final 20 minutes of regulation, Indiana scored its second goal of the night as Ryan Wittenbrink found the back of the net on his own to increase the Hoosiers' lead. Evansville got its chances late as the Aces recorded three shots in the late going, but could not pull one back in a 2-0 loss at IU.

Hald Amasses the Minutes

• Freshman Oliver Hald has been a stalwart along the Aces backline this season.
• In his first collegiate season, Hald leads the team with 1,123 minutes spent on the pitch in 13 matches.
• The last UE freshman to spend more time than that on the pitch was Ethan Garvey with 1,193 minutes in 2019, which Hald could surpass in Saturday's match against Missouri State.

 

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