WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Fresh off of a trip to the 2013 NCAA Tournament, William and Mary men's soccer head coach Chris Norris announced the 18-game 2014 men's soccer schedule on Wednesday morning. Nine home games, nine 2013 NCAA Tournament teams, and a game on NSCCA TV highlight the 2014 slate.
Two tune-ups start the Tribe's schedule. William and Mary will host a pair of scrimmages at Martin Family Stadium starting on Aug. 18 against Longwood, before the Tribe hosts VCU on Aug. 22.
The regular season opens with a three-game home stand at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. As part of the VCU Tournament, W&M will host 2013 NCAA Tournament qualifier East Tennessee State on Aug. 29, before hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Aug. 31. The final match of the home stand will come against ACC rival Pittsburgh on Sept. 5.
W&M hits the road for the first time in 2014 with a two-game road trip. The Tribe travels to ACC foe N.C. State (9/8), before traveling to St. Francis (9/12).
The Green and Gold will make a brief stop in Williamsburg for a match with NCAA Second Round Tournament participant North Carolina on Sept 16. The match will be streamed live on NSCAATV.
William and Mary's final four non-conference opponents all played in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Tribe travels to Sweet 16 participant Georgetown (9/21), before heading to UMBC (9/24). The final non-conference road match will be against Charlotte (9/30), who appeared in the NCAA Second Round. W&M will host Old Dominion (10/21) at Albert-Daly Field in its final non-conference match of the season.
After sending three teams to the NCAA Tournament in 2013, the Colonial Athletic Association slate will again be a strong measuring stick for the Tribe. W&M opens CAA play at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Stadium versus UNCW on Sept. 27. The remainder of W&M's home schedule includes: a CAA Championship rematch against Drexel (10/4), NCAA Tournament Team and league newcomer Elon (10/8), and NCAA Tournament team Delaware (10/18).
The Tribe will travel to four CAA games this season. The Green and Gold's road slate includes matches at Hofstra (10/11), College of Charleston (10/15), Northeastern (10/25), and James Madison (10/29).
William and Mary returns 20 players from its NCAA Tournament team, including CAA First-Team member rising senior Marcus Luster, as well as third-team selections rising seniors Josh West and Chris Albiston as well as rising junior Jackson Eskay. The Tribe also welcomes five freshmen to the squad in 2014.
The Tribe returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 in the 2013 season, winning 11 matches overall. The Green and Gold also spent four-weeks in the NSCAA Top 25, and knocked off a pair of No. 1 teams, 10 days apart.
