MONROE,
La. - The 2011 ULM soccer schedule was released this past week by Director of Athletics
Bobby Staub and head coach Stacy Lamb. The Warhawks are slated to play 20
regular-season matches in 2011, including 12 matches at the ULM Soccer
Complex.
"In
looking to the 2011 season, I am eager to get started because of the talent we
have returning as well as the new players we recently signed," Lamb said. "I
think one of the most exciting aspects of the 2011 season is our schedule. Last
season we were on the road a lot and when putting this schedule together I knew
we wanted to be at home more."
The
schedule includes non-conference home matches against Northwestern State (Aug.
23), Southern (Aug. 28), McNeese State (Sept. 2), Southeastern Louisiana (Sept.
9), Grambling (Sept. 16) and Mississippi Valley State (Sept. 18). The Warhawks
will also make three road appearances against Central Arkansas (Aug. 19),
Nicholls State (Aug. 21) and Centenary (Sept. 7).
"I
believe our non-conference schedule will be challenging but also allow us to
experience success before we get into conference play," Lamb said.
ULM will
open Sun Belt Conference play with a pair of road games at Troy (Sept. 23) and
South Alabama (Sept. 25) before heading home to host North Texas (Sept. 30) and
Denver (Oct. 2). The Warhawks will then travel to UALR (Oct.7) and Arkansas
State (Oct. 9).
Parents
and Family Weekend will be Oct. 14-16 when the Warhawks play host to Western
Kentucky (Oct. 14) and Middle Tennessee (Oct. 16). Middle Tennessee is the only
team on the Warhawks' schedule that made an appearance in the NCAA Championships
a year ago.
The
Warhawks will finish up a three-game homestand against FIU (Oct. 20) followed
by a trip to Florida Atlantic (Oct. 23). ULM will celebrate Senior Day against
rival UL-Lafayette (Oct. 28) in the final game at the ULM Soccer Complex in
2011.
"Looking
toward the Sun
Belt Conference, I believe we will be more competitive this season than any other
year and will make the conference tournament for the first time in the history
of ULM Soccer," Lamb said. "Our overall goal is to make the SBC tournament and to
do that we have to win games. I think the 2011 schedule will allow us that opportunity,
all we have to do is take it."
The Sun
Belt Conference Tournament will take place in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on the
campus of Middle Tennessee (Nov. 2-5).
ULM
returns 15 players, including seven that started at least 13 games last season.
Joining the returners will be eight newcomers who will be aiming to help the
Warhawks to their first-ever Sun Belt Conference Tournament appearance next
season.
