University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Soccer to Host Clemson in 2007
06.06.2007 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - A home match with Clemson and two tournaments highlights the 2007 UNC Asheville men's soccer schedule. The 17-match schedule was announced by Bulldog head coach Steve Cornish on Wednesday.
"We always like to play a challenging schedule, and we certainly have managed to that once again this season," stated Cornish.
Asheville opens the 2007 season with two tournaments. The Bulldogs will participate in the University of Kentucky Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 2) the first weekend of the year. Asheville battles IUPUI on Aug. 31 and then takes on a strong Kentucky squad on Sept. 2.
Two weeks later has the Bulldogs playing the Wofford/Adidas Invitational (Sept. 14-16). The men of Steve Cornish play Wofford on Sept. 14 before competing against Southern Conference power Furman on Sept. 16.
"The schedule is difficult right off the bat with two excellent tournaments," explained Cornish. "IUPUI is traditionally a solid club from the Midwest, while Kentucky was nationally ranked last season.
"Wofford is much improved and will be tough to beat on the road," added Cornish. "Furman is always a strong program and that will be the case once again this season."
The Bulldogs finally get a chance to play at home after the two tournaments. Asheville begins a five-game homestand against Elon (Sept. 19). The Dogs also host Campbell (Sept. 22), Presbyterian (Sept. 25), High Point (Sept. 29) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 3).
Asheville plays league foe VMI on the road (Oct. 6) before coming back to Greenwood Field and hosting national power Clemson (Oct. 9). It will be the Tigers first ever trip to Asheville. It's the first time the Bulldogs have entertained an ACC foe on their home turf since taking on UNC Chapel Hill in the opening game of the 1998 season. The Tigers were 13-5-2 last year and advance to the "Sweet 16" of the College Cup. Clemson was ranked first in the nation during a stretch of the 2006 season.
"Clemson is a program that has the potential to win the national championship," pointed out Cornish. "We certainly will have a challenge when we face them but we're looking forward to that challenge."
The Bulldogs battled the Tigers pretty well last season at Clemson before falling, 3-1.
Asheville gets back on the road for three consecutive matches against Big South Conference foes. The Bulldogs tangle at Radford (Oct. 13), Liberty (Oct. 18) and defending league champion Winthrop (Oct. 31).
Cornish's club finishes the regular season with two home matches as the Bulldogs host Appalachian State (Nov. 4) and Gardner-Webb (Nov. 7) before heading to Rock Hill for the Big South Conference Tournament.
Asheville finished with a 5-13-0 overall record last season but return seven starters and 16 lettermen for the 2007.
"I believe we have a chance to be much better this year," declared Cornish. "We have the majority of our lads back from last year and had a good spring. We're anxious to get started."
