MONROE, La. – The ULM soccer program released its 2018 schedule on Tuesday, which includes eight regular season games at the ULM Soccer Complex.
"Fans can expect a very close and challenging game every time you come out to a match," said head soccer coach, Keyton Wheelock.
"We will look to change tactics every game to keep teams on their toes. I will look to my players to always give 100% effort and stay very disciplined in our plan going into the game. We hope to see you out at a couple matches this year."
The Warhawks will open the regular season with nine non-conference games, kicking off the year with an exhibition contest on the road at Southland powerhouse Stephen F Austin (Aug. 10).
Wheelock will take her squad out-of-state to Jacksonville State (Aug.17) and Southern Miss (Aug. 19) before hosting the first home match of the season against Central Arkansas (Aug. 24).
ULM will face in-state rivals Louisiana Tech (Aug. 26), McNeese (Aug. 31), and Northwestern State (Sept. 2) in a three-game road series as August ends and September begins.
The Warhawks will have their first Friday-Sunday home series of the season in their final non-conference games against Southeastern (Sept. 7) and Grambling (Sept. 9).
"I believe we have a non-conference segment that prepares us well for our conference season," said Wheelock. "We will be playing against both possession and direct teams,which will allow us to try some different formations and tactics going into Sun Belt play."
Wheelock is looking to turn a new leaf in 2018, after starting the previous season with a 0-7-1 mark headed into conference play.
"We have five teams in our non-conference segment that are Louisiana teams and I will challenge my players to consider all five of those teams rivals, as they are within our state. The three other non-conference match-ups are with quality opponents who kick off our first three matches of the season."
ULM's Sun Belt Conference schedule will feature an even five home and five away games.
ULM opens the SBC slate at Texas State on September 14, and travel to Arkansas State and Louisiana the following weekend (Sept. 21-23). The team will play back at home the next weekend, hosting Georgia Southern on the 28th and Little Rock on the 30th to wrap up September play.
Back on the road, the Warhawks will face Georgia State (Oct. 5) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 7). In 2017, the squad defeated Coastal at home, 2-0 while dropping a one-goal contest to Georgia State in one of the most competitive weekends posted by the Hawks.
"The Sun Belt Conference is a very difficult conference- competitive top to bottom," Wheelock said. "The last two seasons, the final weekend of play determined not only who goes to the tournament but also how each team would place."
After a much-deserved Friday off, ULM will conclude the regular season with three straight home matches against South Alabama, Appalachian State, and Troy.
"We start our conference segment with three road games and we will need to hit the ground running. As it is difficult to pick up points on the road," said Wheelock. "I am pleased that we will finish our conference segment at home for the final three games as we have been on the road at the end of regular season the last two years. I always love finishing a regular season on your home field it is a special time for your graduating seniors."'
For all home contests, Friday games will begin at 4:00 PM (CT) while Sunday games are slated for a 1:00 PM (CT) start.
The 2018 SBC Championships will be held at an off-campus site in Foley, Ala. on October 31- November 4. The Warhawks will look to make it to the SBC tournament for just the second time in school history, after making its first appearance in 2016.
