EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team will travel west to Carbondale, Illinois on Thursday night to battle Southern Illinois in a key Missouri Valley Conference match-up for both teams. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.
| Evansville at Southern Illinois | Thursday, September 28 | 6 PM CT |
| Site | Location |
Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex | Carbondale, Ill. |
| Links |
6 PM CT: Live Stats | TV: NONE | Radio: NONE |
| Follow the Aces |
Women's Soccer Site | Twitter | Instagram |
Evansville will enter Thursday night's action tied for sixth in the MVC standings with three points, as the Purple Aces have started league play with three-straight ties. Overall, Evansville is 0-3-6 and 0-0-3 in Valley play, and the Purple Aces have been unbeaten in their last four matches. Last week, Evansville played to 1-1 and 0-0 ties against reigning MVC regular-season champion Valparaiso and at MVC Tournament runner-up Murray State to push its unbeaten streak to four matches.
Defense has been UE's calling card, as the Purple Aces entered the week ranked 35th nationally in terms of save percentage at .846. UE also ranks in the nation's top 100 in goals-against average (75th-0.89) and saves per game (87th-4.89), as the Purple Aces have allowed just eight goals through nine matches this season.
Southern Illinois, meanwhile, will be looking for its first point of the MVC season on Thursday night, as the Salukis stand at 1-6-3 overall and 0-3-0 in the Valley. The Salukis' three losses in league play have come at the hands of three teams – Drake, UNI and UIC – who are currently tied for second place in the Valley standings. Senior forward McKensey Bunch currently leads the SIU attack with four goals and eight points overall, as she ranks among the MVC's leaders in both categories.
All-time, the series is tied between UE and SIU in women's soccer, with both sides earning a victory and there being one tie in three meetings. Southern Illinois used an 89th-minute goal to beat Evansville, 2-1, last year in Evansville.
