UNCW Men's Soccer Slate Highlighted By Nine Home Games

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC Wilmington men’s soccer team will take on three NCAA tournament clubs during a 2008-09 schedule that features nine home matches, including the fourth Courtyard by Marriott/UNCW Classic.

“This is a very challenging schedule from the first game to the last,” said Aidan Heaney, who enters his eighth season as head coach. “The staff and players are excited about the level of competition. There are no easy games on the schedule.”

The Seahawks open the season with tests against NCAA tournament entries Campbell and Furman. UNCW visits the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion Camels Aug. 29 before opening its home slate Aug. 31 against the Paladins of Furman.

UNCW then plays in the first of two in-season tournaments when it travels to upstate New York to play in the prestigious Mayors Cup in Oneonta. The Seahawks begin the two-day event by taking on Big East foe Syracuse Sept. 5 and wrap up the classic with a match against host Hartwick Sept. 7.

The Seahawks staged the Courtyard by Marriott/UNCW Classic Sept. 12 and 14 at the UNCW Soccer Stadium. UNCW battles Dayton Sept. 12 before entertaining in-state foe UNC Charlotte, who reached the finals of the Atlantic 10 tournament, Sept. 14.

A pair of road games in mid-September close out the non-conference table. UNCW travels to Coastal Carolina Sept. 17 and UNC Greensboro Sept. 20. UNCG reached the finals of the Southern Conference tournament before bowing to Furman.

Colonial Athletic Association games will be played on Wednesday and Saturday this season, instead of Friday and Sunday.

According to Heaney, “The league’s coaches felt that this would enhance the level of play with the added rest. Midweek games under the lights against some of the best competition in the country will bring added excitement.”

UNCW opens league play with a home match against defending champion Old Dominion Oct. 4, followed by another home match against Georgia State Oct. 8. The Monarchs secured the CAA’s automatic berth and advanced to the third round of the College Cup before dropping a 2-1 decision at Virginia Tech.

Rounding out the rest of the CAA are home games against Towson (Oct. 18), James Madison (Oct. 29) and Hofstra (Nov. 7). On the road, the Seahawks visit Northeastern (Oct. 11), Virginia Commonwealth (Oct. 15), William & Mary (Oct. 22), Delaware (Oct. 25) and George Mason (Nov. 7). -Courtesy UNCW

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT