PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's soccer team opens its 2013 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, with a slate that features three NCAA Tournament squads, two brand new opponents and plenty of familiar nonconference foes.
The Explorers face NCAA squads Lafayette, Drexel and St. John's. The meeting will be the first-ever against the Red Storm and the team also faces Stetson for the first time in program history, while the Atlantic 10 schedule features newcomer George Mason. The schedule also includes two exciting home doubleheaders with the women's soccer team (Oct. 18, Nov. 3).
The A-10 schedule features an eight-game slate, with Saint Louis, Rhode Island and Massachusetts rotated out of the schedule for this season. The league tournament will be held Nov. 14-17 at Dayton's Baujan Field.
The squad will play in an exhibition game prior to the season kickoff as the Explorers travel to Stony Brook on Sat., Aug. 24, for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Explorers and Seawolves have met only once before, back in 2005.
The Explorers open the 2013 regular season on the road at defending Patriot League champion and NCAA participant Lafayette on Aug. 30 with a night game at 7. The two squads met last season, tying 1-1 after two overtime sessions. The Explorers then entertain new Patriot League member Loyola (Md.) in the home opener on Wed., Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium, looking to defend the 1-0 overtime win last season. The Greyhounds were 7-1 in the MAAC last season and advanced to the MAAC semifinals.
The squad then heads back on the road for two games, playing its third straight against a Patriot League foe when the Explorers visit Bucknell on Sat., Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. The Bison won last year's meeting, 2-1, and finished 7-8-5 overall. Another familiar opponent is up next with a trip to LIU Brooklyn on Wed., Sept. 11. The Explorers defeated the Blackbirds 2-1 last year in Philadelphia, and Long Island went on to post a 2-14-2 record.
The Explorers then return to Philadelphia for two home games and a trip across town to Drexel. The team entertains Saint Peter's on Sat., Sept. 14, as a return game from last year's trip to North Jersey. The Explorers downed the Peacocks 1-0 in overtime in 2012, and the Peacocks posted a 5-11 record. NCAA at-large pick Drexel is up next on Tues., Sept. 17. The Explorers edged the Dragons in last year's season opener, winning 3-2 in overtime. Drexel went 12-4-3 overall and 8-1-1 in the CAA en route to its at-large bid. A fourth Patriot League opponent, Lehigh, then travels to McCarthy Stadium on Sat., Sept. 21. The Explorers topped the Mountain Hawks 2-0 in last year's meeting and Lehigh finished 4-12-1 overall.
New opponent Stetson rounds out the September slate as the Explorers will enjoy a trip to DeLand, Fla., on Sat., Sept. 28. The Hatters went 3-10-2 last season and compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Two members of the "new" BIG EAST round out the nonconference schedule as Villanova comes to 20th and Olney on Wed., Oct. 2 and the Explorers travel to NCAA squad St. John's for a first-ever meeting on Tues., Oct. 8. The Wildcats went 12-6-2 last year while the Red Storm posted a 10-5-4 record.
The Explorers open the Atlantic 10 slate on Fri., Oct. 11, with three straight home games. La Salle and Duquesne meet in the conference opener at McCarthy Stadium after tying each other for seventh in the league standings last year. St. Bonaventure comes to town on Sun., Oct. 13. The Bonnies finished 10th in the A-10 last year. The third home game (Fri., Oct. 18) features a contest against rival Saint Joseph's at 7:30 p.m., and will be the second part of a doubleheader with the women's soccer team.
The team then heads on the road for two, taking on VCU in Richmond on Fri., Oct. 25, and then traveling to A-10 newcomer George Mason on Sun., Oct. 27. The Explorers and Patriots will be meeting for the first time since 2006 when the Explorers took a 2-0 decision. George Mason leads the series 2-1-1. The Patriots went 11-6-2 last season and were 4-5-1 in the CAA.
Sun., Nov. 3, features the second of the men's/women's doubleheaders and will also be Senior Day for the program's graduationg seniors. The Explorers host Dayton that day in a time to be announced later. The Atlantic 10 schedule wraps up with away games at Fordham (Fri., Nov. 8) and George Washington (Sun., Nov. 10).
The Explorers will have an opportunity to make noise in the conference this season and chase their fourth straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berth. Defending league champion Charlotte is gone this season, as are third place Xavier and fifth place Temple. The Explorers tied for seventh last season and were fourth among returning squads.
