Men's Soccer Announces 2008 Schedule
June 10, 2008
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis men's soccer coach Dan Donigan today announced the Billikens' 2008 schedule. The 18-match slate includes five contests against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago and nine regular-season games at SLU's Robert R. Hermann Stadium. "As usual, we have some of the nation's best teams on our schedule," Donigan said. "In order to give yourself a chance to prepare your team for postseason play, you must play the best. We are excited about next season, and we know that we will need to be fit and ready to go against all the teams on our schedule." Following exhibition matches against DePaul and Memphis at Hermann Stadium on Aug. 20 and Aug. 23, respectively, the Billikens head to the West Coast to participate in the Loyola Marymount Soccer Classic in Los Angeles the weekend of Aug. 29-31. On Friday, SLU faces San Diego. Last season, the up-and-coming Toreros finished 11-8-1 overall and 8-3-1 in the challenging West Coast Conference. On Sunday, SLU will meet the host Lions in a rematch of last season's 1-0 thriller at Hermann Stadium that was won by the Billikens on Brandon Barklage's late tally. The Billikens stay on the road for their next two matches as they will participate in Creighton's Diadora Challenge in Omaha, Neb. They face UC Riverside on Friday, Sept. 5, then take on Portland on Sunday, Sept. 7. Last season, Portland earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament and fell to Washington in the first round on a late penalty kick. SLU begins a stretch of five consecutive home games when it welcomes Connecticut to Hermann Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Huskies are coming off a 20-win season and an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals. Returning to the squad is 2007 MAC Hermann Trophy winner O'Brian White, who led the nation with 23 goals a season ago. The Billikens welcome Denver on Saturday, Sept. 20, and host Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 27, for Homecoming. Northwestern, which advanced the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, comes to town for a mid-week game on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The Billikens face Creighton on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Hermann Stadium. The Bluejays, who are led by former SLU coach Bob Warming, advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007. "Our fans and supporters should enjoy some great competition next fall, and we hope they continue to support us as in years past to extend our tradition as one of the nation's leaders in attendance," Donigan said. "Playing these talented teams is one thing, but earning positive results is another. We are anxious to get going." A nine-match Atlantic 10 Conference slate begins on Friday, Oct. 10. The Billikens open on the road at La Salle and Fordham before returning home to host Xavier and Dayton on Friday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 19, respectively. SLU takes a trip to Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 25, and returns to Hermann Stadium the next weekend to face St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. The Billikens face NCAA College Cup participant Massachusetts on Friday, Nov. 7, before closing out their regular season on the road at Rhode Island on Sunday, Nov. 9. The A-10 Championship, which features the top six teams in the league, is slated for Nov. 12-15 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
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