2013 Men's Soccer Schedule
Garden City, N.Y. – Head Men's Soccer Coach, Carlo Acquista, has announced the slate of games for the upcoming 2013 soccer season. This year, the Panthers will be competing at the Division II level after being reclassified from Division I. The 16 game slate features 10 home contests and three non-conference matchups against former East Coast Conference rivals.
"We are excited and honored to be competing in the Northeast-10 Conference," stated Acquista. "The NE-10 combines the best in academics and athletics for the student-athlete. We understand and are fully aware of how difficult it will be to compete in this conference, but we are looking forward to the challenge."
On Thursday, September 5 at 7pm, the Panthers will kick off their 2013 campaign with a matchup in front of the home crowd against Molloy College of the ECC. Just two days later, they will have their first big test of the season when they host the LIU-Post Pioneers; a team that lost just two games all year long and was nationally ranked in the top-three while holding the top spot for several weeks.
"We are excited to renew the Adelphi-LIU-Post rivalry after a 24 year hiatus," exclaimed Acquista. "LIU-Post was one of the best teams in the country last year in all statistical categories. We will prepare in the best way we can to compete with the best in the nation."
Another hefty challenge awaits just four days later when they begin their Northeast-10 conference portion of the schedule on the 14th against Merrimack. The Warriors won 15 games during 2012, were the NE-10 Tournament runner up and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The following Wednesday will close out the four game home stand as the Panthers host the Yellow Jackets of American International College.
"I watched Merrimack play several times last year on video and am complimentary of how head coach Tony Martone and his team play soccer," describes Acquista. "They are one of the top teams in the league and boasted the Coach and Player of the Year and made the NCAA tournament. It's going to be a very challenging match and we will make sure we prepare for it as best we can."
Over the next four weeks, the Brown and Gold will swap four times between back-to-back home and away games. The first test on the road will be contested in Easton, Massachusetts against Stonehill on the 21st followed by Le Moyne on the 24th.
Closing out September on a high note will be a difficult challenge with Southern New Hampshire visiting Garden City on the 28th. The Penmen are the reigning NE-10 Champions and made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out in the semifinals.
"SNHU is a very well organized; they're tactical, athletic and well coached. Marc Hubbard is one of the brightest coaching minds in the NE-10 and I'm looking forward to competing against a great team."
A 7pm game against St. Rose on the second opens up the October slate which will be followed by road contests at St. Anselm and Assumption before returning home for games against St. Michael's College and New Haven.
After making the trip up to Rindge, New Hampshire to square off against Franklin Pierce on the 19th, they return home and get a one game break against NE-10 institutions when they host Dowling College; their third ECC opponent of the year.
The final regular season home stand will be on Saturday, October 26 against Bentley in which the Panthers will celebrate senior day. Three days later, they close out their regular season in New Haven, Connecticut against the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University before moving into post season play.
The NCAA has granted the men's soccer team eligible to participate in NCAA Tournament action.
