TicketsJuly 9, 2008
- 2008 Men's Soccer Schedule
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati 2008 men's soccer schedule features eight matches against 2007 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including home matches against NCAA quarterfinalist Notre Dame and regional rivals Kentucky and Louisville.
A challenging non-conference schedule is highlighted by a two-match tournament hosted by Akron. The Bearcats will play Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday, Sept. 5 before taking on the host Zips on Sunday, Sept. 7. The annual crosstown rivalry match against Xavier will take place on Aug. 29 at the XU Soccer Complex.
Other non-conference foes include Loyola-Chicago (Sept. 1), Kentucky (Sept. 13), Alabama A&M (Oct. 15) and Michigan State (Oct. 22).
"We have a very challenging non-conference schedule and a young team," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "Being so young, it is critical for us to get off to a good start."
The BIG EAST schedule presents its share of challenges, as the Bearcats travel to take on NCAA participants Providence (Sept. 19), Connecticut (Sept. 21) and DePaul (Oct. 11), while also visiting Villanova (Oct. 4) and traditional power St. John's (Oct. 31) in a nationally-televised match on Fox Soccer Channel.
The home portion of the conference schedule features visits from NCAA qualifiers Notre Dame (Sept. 26), against whom the Bearcats hold a 2-0-1 record since joining the BIG EAST, Louisville (Oct. 7) and USF (Oct. 28). Other BIG EAST home opponents include Marquette (Sept. 28), Rutgers (Oct. 18) and Syracuse (Oct. 25).
The BIG EAST Tournament, which UC has qualified for in each of its first three seasons as a member of the conference, begins on Nov. 5-6 on campus sites. The semifinals and finals will be held at the USF Soccer Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Nov. 14 and 16, respectively.
"With eight NCAA teams from a year ago, this is one of our most difficult schedules that we've had here," Dayes said. "As always, our top priority is to compete for the BIG EAST championship. Our non-conference schedule will not only prepare us for the rigors of BIG EAST play, but hopefully position us in the at-large pool for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament."
UC opens exhibition play at home against Butler on Aug. 17. The Bearcats then wrap up preseason play with a trip to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan on Aug. 23.