Drake looks to notch a key Missouri Valley Conference road victory as the Bulldogs battle Evansville tonight. The match is slated for 7:07 p.m. start, with the showdown being televised nationally on Fox Soccer Channel as the NSCAA Men’s College Soccer Game of the Week.

Friday’s match brings together two of the top teams in the Midwest Region and Missouri Valley Conference. Drake (9-4-1, 4-1-0) is first in the MVC, #2 in the NSCAA Midwest Region poll, ranked #24 in the NSCAA national poll, and receiving votes in the Soccer Times poll. Evansville (9-5-1, 3-3-1) is fourth in the MVC, #7 in the Midwest Region, and receiving votes in both polls.

The Aces need a victory Friday to maintain the opportunity of capturing an MVC regular season championship. A victory would also assure the Aces of their fourth consecutive winning season under fourth-year coach Mike Jacobs, a feat most recently accomplished by the 1989 through 1992 teams. UE has allowed only one goal in each of its last five matches, but the Aces are just 2-2-1 during that stretch following Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to second place Missouri State (9-3-2, 4-1-1). Creighton (6-3-3, 4-2-2) moved back into third place Wednesday with a 3-0 win at Bradley. First place Drake has won five of its last six, including a 3-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Wednesday.

The Missouri State Bears have games remaining with both teams. The Drake Bulldogs will play at Plaster on Sunday November 1st, it’s LAUNCH A LEGACY DAY and the Bears are offering suites for rent that day and are collecting food on behalf of the Ozarks Food Harvest. The Evansville Aces visit on November 4th. I’ll be enjoying the game and doing some scouting. How about you?