University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Soccer Will Play Seven NCAA Tournament Teams In 2007
May 8, 2007
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond men's soccer team will play seven teams who played in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and the UR Nike Challenge Cup will return to First Market Stadium, head coach Jeff Gettler announced.
The Spiders will host four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last fall: Rhode Island, Saint Louis, George Mason and Binghamton. The Spiders will play at NCAA participants Virginia, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech, who the Spiders defeated 3-2 in overtime in 2006 when the Hokies were ranked No. 16 in the nation.
"With a number of talented veteran players, we think this is the kind of competitive schedule that will bring the best out in our team," Gettler said. "This will prepare us for an Atlantic 10 Championship."
Richmond opens the season at home on Aug. 31 against Villanova, before heading down I-64 West to face Virginia on Sept. 2. The Spiders play in the Colgate Invitational on Sept. 7 against Colgate and Sept. 9 vs. Cornell.
Then it's back home for the UR Nike Challenge Cup which returns after a two-year layoff. The Spiders will play Binghamton on Friday, Sept. 14 and Campbell on Saturday, Sept. 15. Duquesne is the fourth team in the tournament.
After hosting George Mason on Sept. 22, Richmond hits the road for games at Virginia Tech (Sept. 25) and Old Dominion (Sept. 29). Richmond plays two-time defending Atlantic 10 champion Rhode Island in a unique non-conference game at First Market Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 7, since the Rams and Spiders do not meet on the conference schedule.
Richmond officially opens conference play on Oct. 13 at George Washington and follows that with a trip to Philadelphia to take on Temple (Oct. 19) and Saint Joseph's (Oct. 21).
The Spiders host Saint Louis (Oct. 26) and Charlotte (Oct. 28), play at St. Bonaventure (Nov. 2) and Duquesne (Nov. 4), before concluding conference play at home against La Salle (Nov. 9) and Fordham (Nov. 11).
The 2007 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Tournament will be played Nov. 15-18 at Dayton.