TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati men's soccer head coach Hylton Dayes announced Friday the team's 2018 fall schedule.
The Bearcats will face a challenging, 18-game slate in 2018 featuring two regular-season home matches at Nippert Stadium and the remaining eight at Gettler Stadium. 2017 NCAA Sweet 16 squad Western Michigan, Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) semifinalist Bradley, and consistent American Athletic Conference (AAC) contender USF highlight the home slate, while crosstown rival Xavier, former league mate West Virginia, and 2017 NCAA Third Round participant SMU provide notable road tests.
"We look forward to tackling this challenging schedule," said Dayes, "which includes quality nonconference opponents that will prepare us well for conference play. We are also excited to play a few matches at Nippert Stadium. Gettler Stadium has been a great home for us, but the chance to play in such an iconic venue as Nippert will be special. I know our guys are looking forward to it."
After an exhibition opener against Detroit Mercy at Nippert on Aug. 13 and a friendly at SIUE on Aug. 17, the Bearcats will return home to the historic stadium on Friday, Aug. 24 to open the 2018 fall campaign against Northern Illinois. UC will follow against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 27 at Gettler Stadium.
In its first road match of the year, the Red & Black will travel to Cleveland, Ohio to face the Cleveland State Vikings on Aug. 31. The Bearcats will then come back to campus to host Wright State on Sept. 3 before traveling across town to take on the Xavier Musketeers on Sept. 7.
The Bearcats will play their final game at Nippert on Sept. 12 when they battle NCAA Tournament team Western Michigan. In their first two-game road swing of 2018, the Bearcats will trek to Morgantown, West Virginia to oppose the Mountaineers on Sept. 18. The Bearcats will follow with their AAC opener at Memphis on Sept. 23.
UC will begin its longest homestand of the year on Sept. 26 versus IUPUI. Next up, the Bearcats will host Temple in their first home conference match of the season on Sept. 29 and then wrap the home series with a renewal of their rivalry with the Bradley Braves.
The Bearcats' tough, road conference slate will get underway on Oct. 6 at UConn, prior to a home date with Tulsa on Oct. 13. UC will visit Fort Wayne on Oct. 16 and follow with a trip to Dallas, Texas to take on defending AAC Champion SMU on Oct. 20.
Wrapping up their home portion of the schedule, the Bearcats will welcome in-state foe Bowling Green on Oct. 23 and celebrate Senior Night on Oct. 27 against USF.
The regular season will conclude with a visit to Orlando, Florida to battle the 2017 league runner-up UCF Knights on Nov. 2.
"Conference play will be our main focus and will be very competitive. With three conference matches at home and four away, we will need to play well on the road to have a chance to be successful in the league."
New in 2018, the top six teams in the conference will qualify for the 2018 AAC Men's Soccer Championship. All tournament games will hosted by the top overall seed. Previously, only the top four teams in the league qualified for the league championship.
"It's good that the conference tournament has been expanded to six teams. With the quality in our league, in the past, deserving teams were left out. Now, more teams will have an opportunity to extend their seasons."
The Bearcats will face a challenging, 18-game slate in 2018 featuring two regular-season home matches at Nippert Stadium and the remaining eight at Gettler Stadium. 2017 NCAA Sweet 16 squad Western Michigan, Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) semifinalist Bradley, and consistent American Athletic Conference (AAC) contender USF highlight the home slate, while crosstown rival Xavier, former league mate West Virginia, and 2017 NCAA Third Round participant SMU provide notable road tests.
"We look forward to tackling this challenging schedule," said Dayes, "which includes quality nonconference opponents that will prepare us well for conference play. We are also excited to play a few matches at Nippert Stadium. Gettler Stadium has been a great home for us, but the chance to play in such an iconic venue as Nippert will be special. I know our guys are looking forward to it."
After an exhibition opener against Detroit Mercy at Nippert on Aug. 13 and a friendly at SIUE on Aug. 17, the Bearcats will return home to the historic stadium on Friday, Aug. 24 to open the 2018 fall campaign against Northern Illinois. UC will follow against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 27 at Gettler Stadium.
In its first road match of the year, the Red & Black will travel to Cleveland, Ohio to face the Cleveland State Vikings on Aug. 31. The Bearcats will then come back to campus to host Wright State on Sept. 3 before traveling across town to take on the Xavier Musketeers on Sept. 7.
The Bearcats will play their final game at Nippert on Sept. 12 when they battle NCAA Tournament team Western Michigan. In their first two-game road swing of 2018, the Bearcats will trek to Morgantown, West Virginia to oppose the Mountaineers on Sept. 18. The Bearcats will follow with their AAC opener at Memphis on Sept. 23.
UC will begin its longest homestand of the year on Sept. 26 versus IUPUI. Next up, the Bearcats will host Temple in their first home conference match of the season on Sept. 29 and then wrap the home series with a renewal of their rivalry with the Bradley Braves.
The Bearcats' tough, road conference slate will get underway on Oct. 6 at UConn, prior to a home date with Tulsa on Oct. 13. UC will visit Fort Wayne on Oct. 16 and follow with a trip to Dallas, Texas to take on defending AAC Champion SMU on Oct. 20.
Wrapping up their home portion of the schedule, the Bearcats will welcome in-state foe Bowling Green on Oct. 23 and celebrate Senior Night on Oct. 27 against USF.
The regular season will conclude with a visit to Orlando, Florida to battle the 2017 league runner-up UCF Knights on Nov. 2.
"Conference play will be our main focus and will be very competitive. With three conference matches at home and four away, we will need to play well on the road to have a chance to be successful in the league."
New in 2018, the top six teams in the conference will qualify for the 2018 AAC Men's Soccer Championship. All tournament games will hosted by the top overall seed. Previously, only the top four teams in the league qualified for the league championship.
"It's good that the conference tournament has been expanded to six teams. With the quality in our league, in the past, deserving teams were left out. Now, more teams will have an opportunity to extend their seasons."