July 2, 2009

2009 SLU Men's Soccer Schedule | Printable

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis head men's soccer coach Dan Donigan today announced the Billikens' 2009 schedule. The 18-match regular-season slate is highlighted by home matches against New Mexico and Clemson in addition to 2008 NCAA Tournament squads Tulsa and Missouri-Kansas City.

"We face a good number of teams in non-conference play that I feel can be top-20 teams at the end of the season," Donigan said. "It has always been our philosophy to put together strong non-conference schedule to prepare us for league and postseason play. In addition to our non-conference opponents, the Atlantic 10 Conference continues to improve and is a league that has proven it can send multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament."

SLU opens the regular season Tuesday, Sept. 1, against New Mexico at Robert R. Hermann Stadium in a 7 p.m. kick. Last season, the Lobos went 11-6-2 overall and were on the NCAA Tournament bubble. However, they were left out of the tournament after qualifying the previous five years, including the 2005 campaign that saw the Lobos advance to the College Cup.

Following their home opener, the Billikens hit the road for five straight contests. The Nike Portland Invitational in Portland, Ore., will pit SLU against Washington and Portland on Sept. 4 and 6, respectively. Washington finished 8-8-2 overall a season ago, while host Portland finished 8-10-2, including a 5-1 setback to the Billikens Sept. 7.

The Billikens travel to the Chicago area Saturday, Sept. 12, for a neutral-site match against Loyola Chicago at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., the home of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire. Loyola Chicago advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season but bowed out in the first round in a penalty-kick shootout against Northwestern.

SLU concludes its five-match non-conference road swing at the University of Akron Tournament, where SLU faces Florida International Sept. 18 before taking on national power Akron Sept. 20. The Zips, who return seven letterwinners from last year including three All-Americans, went 17-2-4 a season ago and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Saint Louis returns to Hermann Stadium Sept. 26 for its Homecoming match against Tulsa, which qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. The following Wednesday (Sept. 30), the Billikens welcome Missouri-Kansas City, another 2008 NCAA Tournament team. Tulsa and UMKC met in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago, with Tulsa claiming a 2-1 victory against the Kangaroos.

The Billikens conclude their non-conference schedule with a Saturday, Oct. 3, matchup against Clemson. The two-time national champion Tigers (1984 and 1987) finished 7-9-2 a season ago but have shown promise, being one of two teams in 2008 to defeat national champion Maryland and NCAA runner-up North Carolina.

SLU embarks on its fifth season in the Atlantic 10 Conference Friday, Oct. 9, playing all five of its conference home games consecutively. The league opener is against Richmond, while George Washington travels to St. Louis Sunday, Oct. 11.

Charlotte, arguably SLU's biggest rival in A-10 play, visits Saturday, Oct. 17. The Billikens conclude their regular-season home schedule with dates against Fordham (Friday, Oct. 23) and La Salle (Sunday, Oct. 25).

The Billikens play their final four regular-season matches on the road. SLU takes on Xavier in Cincinnati Friday, Oct. 30, before traveling to face 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifier and reigning A-10 champion Dayton Sunday, Nov. 1. The Billikens conclude their regular season on the East Coast with matches at Temple (Friday, Nov. 6) and Saint Joseph's (Sunday, Nov. 8).

The top six teams in the A-10 at season's end advance to the league tournament beginning Thursday, Nov. 12, at the University of Rhode Island. The NCAA Tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 20 and concludes with the NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup in Cary, N.C., the weekend of Dec. 11.

The Billikens, who report to campus Aug. 14 for preseason camp, will play a pair of exhibition contests beginning with an Aug. 22 matchup against Missouri State at Hermann Stadium. SLU then travels to Memphis for an exhibition tilt Aug. 25, one week prior to its season opener against New Mexico.

Ticket information is available online at www.slubillikens.com or by calling (314) 977-4SLU. A complete promotional schedule, including activities related to Saint Louis soccer's 50-year celebration, will be released shortly.