Men's Soccer Southern Conference

Davidson to Face Challenging 2004 Men's Soccer Schedule

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Davidson head men's soccer coach Matt Spear recently announced the Wildcats' tentative 2004 schedule, which features five teams that finished in the top 20 of the 2003 final rankings. The 2003 SoCon Champion 'Cats are looking forward to their pre-season exhibition match against Liberty University on Aug. 28 when they will also showcase Davidson's brand new $2 million soccer complex.

"I am confident that this year's schedule is better, more challenging and more exciting that last year's," Spear said. "Our players play better against top competition so it is a no-brainer for me to match us up against great programs. We want to win the conference again and make another trip to the NCAA Tournament; this schedule will prepare us to reach those goals."


The 2003 SoCon Champs will look to defend their title in the upcoming season.

After regular season opener on Sept. 1 against Marquette in the teams' first-ever meeting, Davidson will go on the road to battle Old Dominion, a squad that closed 2003 ranked 20th, on Sept. 4. The Wildcats will host their first tournament since the 1998 season the weekend of Sept. 10-12. In the Davidson adidas Classic, Davidson will challenge Vanderbilt and Alabama-Birmingham. UNC Greensboro will be the fourth team.

Davidson heads west to take part in the adidas Classic hosted by Santa Clara University the following weekend. The 'Cats will take on San Francisco on Thursday evening, followed by a bout with 2003 College Cup contender Santa Clara (NCAA Semifinalist) on Saturday. Conference season opens at College of Charleston on Sept. 26, followed by contests with South Carolina and Virginia.

"We are playing soccer at some of the premier facilities in the country," stated Spear. "Old Dominion and Santa Clara have outstanding complexes and Klockner Stadium in Virginia is arguably one of the most important complexes in the country as it was one of the first soccer-only venues to arise."

Intermixed with league opponents in October is an adidas tournament hosted by UNC Greensboro where Davidson will face Mercer and attempt to avenge its first-round NCAA Tournament loss against Coastal Carolina. Wake Forest, which is likely a preseason top-five team, comes to Davidson in early November and the 'Cats go down the road to cross-county rival Charlotte before closing their season against Georgia Southern with Senior Day on Nov. 7.

Davidson finished the 2003 season with a record of 15-6-2 overall, 6-1-0 in the Southern Conference. The Wildcats were both the league regular-season and tournament champions.