Indy Eleven and St. Louis FC to play match at UE

Over the course of its history, the University of Evansville men’s soccer program has played host to a number of marquee events, from nationally-televised games to national championships, but later this spring, another will be added to that list as Saint Louis FC and Indy Eleven will play an exhibition match at Arad McCutchan Stadium.

The match, which will be the first-ever professional soccer event staged on campus, is slated for 7:30 p.m. on March 16. Prior to the contest, the UE men’s soccer team will kick off its spring season with a showdown against the Saint Louis FC reserve team at 5 p.m.

“This is an opportunity to showcase the sport of soccer within our community, but it’s also going to give our guys the chance to see what a professional environment will look like,” UE head coach Marshall Ray said. “We’re looking forward to hosting two very competitive teams in their respective divisions, and hopefully, we’ll have a good night of soccer here at the University of Evansville.”

Saint Louis FC is hoping to build upon a debut season in 2015 that featured a ninth-place finish in the United Soccer League and a trip to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club, which is affiliated with Chicago Fire of MLS, ranked fourth in attendance in the USL.

“The University of Evansville is a storied soccer program with a great history and an outstanding facility, and the community has a great soccer tradition as well,” Saint Louis FC head coach Dale Schilly said. “It’s only fitting that Indy Eleven and Saint Louis meet there for our preseason match. Indy is a very good team that, like us, has made a number of improvements. It should be an exciting game, and more importantly, it will be great preparation for the regular season for both teams.”

After drawing nearly 10,000 fans per game in 2015, Indy Eleven is one of the best-supported soccer clubs in the North American Soccer League. The club has led the NASL in attendance in each of its first two seasons of existence, and it features eight players with MLS experience, including 2008 Goalkeeper of the Year Jon Busch and Jamaican international Lovel Palmer.

“We are excited to get down to the University of Evansville and showcase Indy Eleven to the soccer fans of southern Indiana,” Indy Eleven head coach Tim Hankinson said. “The game against Saint Louis FC will provide one of the best challenges of our preseason calendar, and it will serve as a solid measuring stick as we prepare for the NASL season.”

Tickets to the friendly $5 and will be sold on the day of the event.