The George Mason men's soccer team will host the D.C. College Cup this season as part of a challenging non-conference schedule which sees the 2011 regular season open on August 26. The regular season closes on November 5 with the top six Colonial Athletic Association teams making the CAA Tournament.

The Patriots will play five of their 11 CAA matches at home this year along with four non-conference matches.

"The 2011 schedule is extremely exciting on many levels," said Mason head coach Greg Andrulis. "First we maintain our philosophy of challenging ourselves with the best possible non-conference schedule that features Top 20 teams with NCAA tournament experience. Second, we are able to provide our team and fans with quality home games against nationally-recognized opponents. And third, we have a schedule that will help prepare the team for a very strong conference schedule. On paper the 2011 schedule appears to be one of the most exciting and challenging schedules for Mason soccer in recent history."

After exhibition matches at West Virginia (Aug. 16) and Virginia (Aug. 19), the Patriots will open the regular season at Boston College on Aug. 26. The first home game of the year will be on Sept. 1, with the Patriots hosting Howard at 7:30 p.m. as part of the D.C. College Cup. The Patriots are the defending champions of the event. Also competing earlier in the day are George Washington and American. Two days later, the Patriots will face the Eagles while GW takes on Howard.

Mason will also play at the Brown Tournament taking on the host school on Sept. 9 and Holy Cross on Sept. 11. Two non-conference matches remain and they are both at home. The Patriots will play Central Florida on Sept. 16 and Cal Fullerton on Sept. 18. Central Florida made the NCAA Sweet Sixteen last year.

Conference play begins with a home match against Old Dominion on Sept. 24 and the Patriots will alternate home and road in their next several matches, playing at VCU on Oct. 1, hosting Drexel on Oct. 5, traveling to William & Mary on Oct. 8 and hosting Towson on Oct. 12. Back-to-back road matches follow at James Madison (Oct. 15) and at Delaware (Oct. 19) and then Mason will host Northeastern (Oct. 22) and play at Hofstra (Oct. 26). Senior Day will be against Georgia State on Oct. 29 with a road match at UNC Wilmington to close the regular season on November 5.

The CAA Tournament will be played the following week with the finals contested at the home of the regular-season champion on Nov. 13.

2011 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE

AUGUST

16     Tue     @ West Virginia University (Exh)     7:00 p.m.              

19     Fri       @ UVA (Exh)                                5:00 p.m.

26     Fri       @ Boston College                         4:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

1     Thurs     D.C. College Cup (at George Mason University)

                    GW vs American                          5:00 p.m.

                    Mason vs Howard                         7:30 p.m.

3     Sat        D.C. College Cup (at George Mason University)                                       

                    Howard vs GW                              5:00 p.m.

                    American vs Mason                       7:30 p.m.

9     Fri          Brown Tournament

                    George Mason vs. Brown                 7:00 p.m.

1     Sun        George Mason vs. Holy Cross          Noon

16   Fri          UCF                                             8:00 p.m.

18   Sun           CAL FULLERTON                            4:00 p.m.

24    Sat            ODU *                                         7:00 p.m.

OCTOBER  

1     Sat          at VCU *                                      7:00 p.m.

5      Wed        DREXEL*                                     7:00 p.m.

8     Sat          at William & Mary *                       7:00 p.m.

12     Wed        TOWSON *                                  7:00 p.m.

15    Sat          at JMU *                                     7:00 p.m.

19    Wed        at Delaware *                              7:00 p.m.

22    Sat             NORTHEASTERN *                        7:00 p.m.

26    Wed        at Hofstra*                                  7:00 p.m.

29      Sat         GEORGIA STATE*                        3:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER

5      Sat         at UNC Wilmington*                      7:00 p.m.

10    Thu        CAA Tournament (at Highest Seed)  TBA

11     Fri         CAA Tournament (at Highest Seed)  TBA

13     Sun       CAA Tournament (at Highest Seed)  TBA

19     Sat        NCAA Tournament First Round         TBA

All home matches at George Mason Stadium

Home matches in ALL CAPS

* denotes Colonial Athletic Association match