FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's soccer team has released its 2013 schedule, as announced by head coach Greg Andrulis.
In addition to tackling new conference opponents in the Atlantic 10, the Patriots will face three NCAA Tournament qualifiers, one ranked squad and 12 foes with an RPI in the top 150 last season.
The schedule features 11 home matches, including four during the month of October. Additionally, the team will host the 13th annual DC College Cup, welcoming American, George Washington and Howard over Labor Day Weekend.
Mason's preseason includes three exhibition games, starting at Loyola (Md.) on August 17 before hosting Lehigh on August 21 and Campbell on August 24.
Attention then turns to the DC College Cup on August 30 and September 1. American will face GW at 5:30 p.m. on Friday before the Patriots take on Howard at 7:30 p.m. Sunday's games include a 5:00 p.m. GW vs. Howard matchup preceding a rematch of last season's championship match between Mason and American. The Patriots won in double overtime, 2-1, as Timi Mulgrew netted the game winner just 2:34 into the second OT for the Patriots' third-consecutive title.
Mason remains at home for three more home matches against Denver (Sept. 6), Binghamton (Sept. 8) and Seton Hall (Sept. 13) before closing out the month of September with three road matches, including two against NCAA Tournament qualifiers. Traveling to Charlottesville on September 17, Mason faces qualifier University of Virginia under the lights. One week later, (Sept. 25) the Patriots take on qualifier UMBC on the road and then travel to Hartford for one final non-conference match at Hartford on September 28.
The month of October signals not only the start of the A-10 season, but also a stretch of four out of five games at George Mason Stadium. Mason welcomes Rhode Island for its first conference game of the season on October 11 at 7:00 p.m. before Massachusetts (Oct. 13) and VCU (Oct. 20) make the trip to Fairfax. The Rams qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season and finished ranked 25th in the final NSCAA Coaches' Poll. After a quick trip to Philadelphia and Saint Joseph's on October 25, Mason concludes its home slate of matches on October 27 versus La Salle.
The Patriots then travel to George Washington (Nov. 2), Duquesne (Nov. 8) and St. Bonaventure (Nov. 10) to wrap up the regular season.
The A-10 Tournament will take place November 14-17 on the campus of the University of Dayton.
The Patriots finished the 2012 season 11-6-2 and 4-5-1 in the CAA, advancing to the CAA Tournament before being eliminated in the opening round by Hofstra after needing PK's to determine the final outcome.
