EVANSVILLE - Back home for a prime MVC matchup, the University of Evansville women's soccer team welcomes Drake into Arad McCutchan Stadium on Saturday at 1 PM in Evansville.
 

Evansville vs. Drake | Sat., Sept. 25 | 1 PM
Date | Time	Sat., Sept. 25 | 1 PM
Location	Evansville, Ind.
Site	Arad McCutchan Stadium
Sat., Sept. 25	Evansville vs. Drake
Follow Along	Live Stats | ESPN3
Evansville	Women's Soccer Home Page | Twitter | Game Notes

Last Match: Evansville 2, UNI 0

• In its MVC opener, the University of Evansville women's soccer team unleashed an impressive attack in the second half, earning a 2-0 win on the road at UNI on Friday afternoon in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
• Senior Abby Phelps was the catalyst to the Aces offensive surge in the second half, scoring twice, after entering the contest without a goal in her collegiate career. Between the posts, it was the 15th shutout of Michaela Till's career, pushing the fifth-year senior into sole possession of third in the record books in career saves.
• Both teams defenses were the key to the opening 45 minutes of action as the two sides combined for 14 shots in the opening half with a total of seven on target, but the Aces and Panthers kept the scoreboard clean. Evansville put three shots on frame in the first half, including two from Emily Wolak that were saved.
• In the second half, the Aces capitalized on their chances early. In the 50th minute, Evansville earned a penalty after Emily Wolak was brought down in the box. Earning their first PK of the season, the Aces chose Abby Phelps to take it and the senior found the back of the net to give UE the advantage early in the second half.
• Just over 10 minutes later, Phelps did it again, scoring off another set piece. With the Aces earning a corner kick, senior Nicole Benati whipped-in a corner that Phelps found the end of, scoring a brace to push Evansville in front, 2-0.
• Evansville's consistently strong defense held strong through the final 30 minutes of the match, withstanding 10 Panther shots as the Aces earned the 2-0 victory.
• With both goals coming off set pieces, Evansville has now scored 10 of its 13 goals off set pieces this season.

Previewing the Matchup

• The Aces and Bulldogs meet for the 26th time in the series history with Drake owning a 14-10-1 advantage in the all-time series. 
• The two sides last met in the spring as Drake captured a 1-0 win over the Aces on March 28 at Arad McCutchan Stadium. 
• Evansville opened MVC play last Friday, capturing a 2-0 win over UNI on the road, while the Bulldogs open conference play with Saturday's match. 
• In non-conference action, the Aces and Bulldogs had one common opponent, SIUE, who Drake defeated 1-0 and Evansville dropped a home match to, 2-0. 
• In Friday's 2-0 road win at UNI, Evansville accomplished something it had not done in nearly a quarter century. The 2-0 win was the largest margin of victory for the Aces in an MVC opener on the road since a 3-0 win at Creighton on Oct. 5, 1997. The two-goal margin of victory was also the largest for UE in a road MVC match since a 5-2 win at Creighton on Oct. 25, 2008. 
• Evansville has been one of the best teams in the nation in allowing opponent free kicks. The Aces are third-best in the nation in fouls per game, committing just five per contest this season. 
• According to the NCAA's toughest schedule statistics, Evansville may have already played its most difficult portion of its schedule, with UE's first nine opponents of the season amassing a .471 win percentage. The Aces final seven opponents have just a .408 win percentage, but that might be misleading. Of the final seven matches for Evansville, four will come against opponents with .500-or-better records. The overall win percentage of UE's future opposition is brought down by the bottom three teams in the MVC standings, who have a combined record of 4-22-2. 
• Of 11 statistical categories, either Drake or Evansville lead eight in the MVC. The Aces are tops in goals against, goal average, margin of victory, PK and PK attempts, while Drake leads opponent goal average, saves, and save percentage.

Limiting Opponent Set Pieces

• Evansville has been one of the best teams in the nation in allowing opponent free kicks.
• The Aces are third-best in the nation in fouls per game, committing just five per contest this season.  

Ranked in the Region

• Evansville returned to its No. 5 ranking in the midwest region by United Soccer Coaches, it was announced Monday.
• With a 5-1-3 record, the Aces sit behind TCU, West Virginia, Texas Tech, and Buffalo and ahead of Oklahoma State and reigning MVC champion Loyola Chicago and traditional powers Kansas and Baylor.

Gameday Giveaway

• All UE students in attendance entered to win a 43'' smart TV (must be present for entire game to win).

 

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