FAIRFAX, Va. – Matches against four teams that ended 2013 ranked in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, six teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament and nine that finished the year ranked with a top-100 RPI are all on tap for Mason this season as head coach Greg Andrulis released the 2014 men's soccer schedule this afternoon.

“We are excited about the 2014 schedule,”  commented Andrulis. “Both our non-conference and in-conference schedules provide with some incredible opportunities against some of the best soccer programs in the country.”

The 2014 schedule features rematches against eight 2013 regular season opponents and includes nine games against teams that Mason did not play last season. Exhibition matches against Villanova and Campbell will take place on the 19th and 23rd of August, respectively, before the Patriots open up the regular season at American University with matches against Howard and American in the newly named Kuykenstrong D.C. College Cup. Play begins on August 29th vs. Howard as Mason looks to take the cup for the fifth consecutive season.

The Green and Gold open up September with three consecutive home games at George Mason Stadium, beginning with a match vs. 2013 NCAA Tournament qualifier Wisconsin on Sept. 5. at 7:00 p.m. The Badgers ended last season ranked 19th in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and advanced to the second round of the Tournament after a win over UW-Milwaukee in the first round.

Mason also hosts UW-Milwaukee along with Hartwick in its next two contests for the Capital Cup. The Panthers, along with Mason, received votes in the NSCAA poll at the end of last season. The two teams are scheduled to play at 7:00 p.m. on September 12 followed by Mason's match vs. Hartwick on the 14th at 1:00 p.m.

Road contests against Seton Hall on September 19 and Long Island University on the 21st follow the three-game homestand. The Patriots close out the month with a rematch against UMBC in Fairfax on Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m., along with a contest against Navy on the 30th in Annapolis, Md. The Retrievers finished 14th in the NSCAA poll and defeated Mason 1-0 last season while the Midshipmen rounded out the Coaches Poll at number 25 in the final voting for 2013.

Competition in October begins with the first Atlantic 10 match of the season, an away contest against VCU on the 4th at 7:00 p.m. The Patriots played the Rams to a 0-0 draw at home and edged them 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament last season.  Mason returns home on October 7 for its final non-conference game at 7:00 p.m. vs. 2013 College Cup semifinalist Virginia. The Cavaliers shut out the Patriots 3-0 in Charlottesville last season and finished with a record of 13-6-5.

Atlantic 10 play continues against Dayton in Ohio on October 10 followed by a home match with A-10 runner-up Saint Louis at 1:00 p.m. on October 12. The Patriots travel to face Rhode Island for the second consecutive season on October 17 before closing the month with matches against Fordham, A-10 newcomer Davidson and local rival George Washington at George Mason Stadium.

The regular season ends for Mason on Sunday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. with a game at La Salle.

The 2014 Atlantic 10 Tournament, hosted by VCU in Richmond, begins on Thursday, November 13 and runs through Sunday, November 16.

For the complete 2014 schedule, please click here.