Mavs Announce Challenging Inaugural Season Schedul
Jul 22, 2011 | Men's Soccer
2011 Schedule
OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Nebraska Omaha men's soccer team will host its first game in program history on Sunday, Aug. 28 against UC Irvine, Head Coach Jason Mims announced on Friday as part of the inaugural 2011 season schedule release.
The Mavericks will play a 13-game schedule, including three home games that will be played at different locations in Omaha. UNO opens the season Aug. 26 at 2010 Summit League regular season champion UMKC and returns home two days later for the first home game in program history against UC Irvine on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. The Anteaters spent most of last year ranked in the top 10 in the national polls and won the Big West regular season championship and finished 14-3-3 with 11 shutouts. The Mavs' historic home opener will be played at the UNO Soccer Field at the Chili Greens Sports Complex.
The Mavs' inaugural schedule includes two teams that have won NCAA Division I national championships (Santa Clara, 1989, and SIU Edwardsville, 1979). UNO will face one 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifier (Santa Clara), and in their first four games the Mavs will play three teams that won either a conference regular season or tournament title last year (UMKC, UC Irvine, Santa Clara).
“We want to be able to test ourselves against the best opponents we can possibly play,” Mims said. “We will have to travel more and not have as many home games as we would like, but we are building for the future. This schedule gives us the best chance to be successful down the road.”
Following its first home game, UNO will play at Summit League opponent Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Sept. 4, then travel to California for games at 2010 NCAA Tournament qualifier Santa Clara and San Jose State, Sept. 9 and 11, respectively.
The Mavs return home on Friday, Sept. 23, for a 7 p.m., game against Mercer under the lights at Werner Park. The outfield at Werner Park will be converted into a soccer field for the Mavs' first-ever night game.
UNO follows up with an Oct. 2 game at Summit League competitor Oral Roberts before a trip to Memphis on Oct. 11.
The Mavs close out their home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against fellow first-year program Fort Hays State. The Tigers are the only Division II team on UNO's schedule. The location and time for that game have not been determined yet.
UNO closes the slate with four straight road games. On Oct. 16, UNO plays at Illinois Chicago, then the Mavs head back to Illinois to play SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 25. UNO ends its season with a November trip to Florida. The Mavs play at Jacksonville on Nov. 4 and finish at Stetson on Nov. 5.
“We are excited to get the ball rolling and show what we can do,” Mims said. “To give the Omaha community a taste of the UNO soccer experience so early in the season is a big benefit for us. We wish we could play more games at home, but for the three we have scheduled, we are hoping the UNO students and fans will come out in full force to support the boys.”
The official men's soccer roster will be released sometime in the next couple of weeks.
2011 Opponents
UMKC Kangaroos
Conference: The Summit League
2010 Record: 10-5-3 (4-1-1)
Noteworthy: 2010 Summit League regular season champions
UC Irvine Anteaters
Conference: Big West Conference
2010 Record: 14-3-3 (7-1-2)
Noteworthy: 2010 Big West regular season champions; recorded 11 shutouts; spent most of the season ranked in the top 10
IPFW Mastodons
Conference: The Summit League
2010 Record: 2-13-2 (0-5-1)
Noteworthy: Six of 13 losses in 2010 came in extra time
Santa Clara Broncos
Conference: West Coast Conference
2010 Record: 10-6-5 (7-1-4)
Noteworthy: One national championship (1989) and 11 WCC titles; 2010 WCC regular season champions and NCAA tournament qualifier
San Jose State Spartans
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
2010 Record: 7-9-3 (1-6-3)
Noteworthy: 15 of 19 players on 2011 roster are juniors and seniors
Mercer Bears
Conference: Atlantic Sun Conference
2010 Record: 10-6-1 (5-4-0)
Noteworthy: 2010 was first 10-win season since 2004
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Conference: The Summit League
2010 Record: 5-8-6 (2-1-3)
Noteworthy: Lost in 2010 Summit League championship game
Memphis Tigers
Conference: Conference USA
2010 Record: 5-11-1 (1-6-1)
Noteworthy: Returns 10 starters from 2010 squad
Fort Hays State Tigers
Conference: Independent
2010 Record: N/A
Noteworthy: First-year program
Illinois Chicago Flames
Conference: Horizon League
2010 Record: 7-11-0 (3-5-0)
Noteworthy: Reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in 2007
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
2010 Record: 10-5-4 (4-1-2)
Noteworthy: Two-time national champions – 1972 (DII), 1979 (DI)
Jacksonville Dolphins
Conference: Atlantic Sun Conference
2010 Record: 9-9-2 (3-5-1)
Noteworthy: Returns 10 starters from 2010 squad
Stetson Hatters
Conference: Atlantic Sun Conference
2010 Record: 10-6-2 (6-2-1)
Noteworthy: Won 2009 Atlantic Sun tournament championship
