Sunday, May 6, 2007

2007 TUSCULUM MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE RELEASED

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The 2007 Tusculum College men's soccer schedule has been released, announced Pioneer head coach Brett Teach. (2007 Schedule)

Tusculum will face a challenging 17-match schedule, featuring six teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Pioneers will also face four teams that won or shared their respective league titles and five that finished the season ranked in the national top 25.

"We are very excited about our schedule for this fall," said Teach. "We play several tournament teams including SAC opponents Lincoln Memorial, Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba. We feel this schedule will give our players challenges every time we step on the field. Our SAC schedule is very difficult as is our region opponents."

Tusculum will open the season on Aug. 24 when the Pioneers host Lewis University. The Flyers went 12-6-1 in 2006 and advanced to the semifinal round of their conference tournament. The University of Montevallo, a NCAA Tournament participant, comes to Greeneville on Aug. 26. The Falcons went 14-5-1 last year, before losing in the first round of the postseason.

Tusculum will hit the road for the first time of the year on Aug. 31 for a match at the University of the Cumberlands. The Patriots had a fine season in 2006 with its 15-5-2 record and ended the regular season ranked 22^nd in the NAIA national poll.

Tusculum returns home on Sep. 2 to host Alderson-Broaddus College in the first of 11 in-region games. TC will begin a five-match road swing on Sep. 8 at Salem International University before returning to the Volunteer State on Sep. 12 to face in-state rival Lincoln Memorial University in TC's South Atlantic Conference opener. The Railsplitters enjoyed their best season in school history last year as LMU went 15-2-3, won the NCAA II Appalachian Regional and advanced to the national semifinals. LMU will be competing in its first full season as a SAC member.

Three days later, Tusculum will be at Clayton State University on Sep. 15. The Lakers went 10-9 last season, but earned a share of the Peach Belt Conference title. On Sep. 19, Tusculum will face Brevard College for the first time in over 30 years. Brevard, a provisional member of the SAC, is entering its first season as a NCAA II member.

Tusculum wraps up the five-match road trip with a Sep. 22 battle against SAC foe Wingate University. TC returns home Sep. 25 to take on traditional national power Lander University. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, while posting a 16-3-1 worksheet. The Lander match begins four straight matches at home for the Pioneers.

On Sep. 29, Newberry College comes to town after finishing third in the SAC last year, while posting an 8-9 overall mark. Mars Hill College is Tusculum's opponent on Oct. 3, six days prior to the annual showdown with arch-rival Carson-Newman College (Oct. 9). The Eagles (14-2-2 in 2006) finished the year ranked No. 15 in the country and advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round.

West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) champion West Virginia Wesleyan College will host the Pioneers on Oct. 12, before Tusculum returns home for its final regular-season match at Pioneer Field against Catawba College. Catawba advanced to the NCAA Tournament while posting an 11-9 record.

On Oct. 20, Tusculum will play its SAC finale at defending conference champion Lenoir-Rhyne College. The Bears had their best season ever in 2006 as they went an impressive 19-1-1 and finished the year ranked fifth nationally and advanced to the NCAA postseason.

Tusculum will wrap up the regular season on Oct. 27 with a road trip to Anderson University, renewing the series for the first time in 10 years.

Of the 19 opponents on Tusculum's schedule, 13 posted winning records last season, while two were at .500.

- TC -