George Washington University Athletics
GW Men's Soccer Announces 2011 Schedule
6/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 22, 2011
2011 Men's Soccer Schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - George Washington men's soccer will host six games on the renovated synthetic turf surface at Mount Vernon Field, participate in a trio of early season tournaments, and face two NCAA Tournament teams as part of its 17-match 2011 schedule, head coach George Lidster has announced.
GW will clash with 2010 NCAA Division I Championship participants Coastal Carolina and Xavier, and play in the DC College Cup, Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational and Jacksonville Tournament, all in September, to highlight the fall slate.
"Our schedule begins with three preseason games that will be vital to prepare tactically for the hectic regular season," said Coach Lidster, who enters his 24th season at GW in 2011 with a school-record 191 career victories. "Our three regular-season tournaments in the Washington area, South Carolina, and Florida will get the players physically prepared for the rigors of Atlantic 10 Conference play, where each weekend we play against two difficult and taxing opponents."
The Colonials are slated to return 19 letterwinners and nine starters from last fall's 3-15-0 team, highlighted by senior starters Mike Burke, Yoni Berhanu, Brice Carr and Jake Davis, and junior forward Seth Rudolph. Rudolph earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in 2010 after finishing among the league's and nation's leaders with 10 goals and 21 points.
It was announced on June 10 that the home of GW men's soccer, Mount Vernon Field, will have its synthetic turf replaced this summer with expected completion in time for the start of the fall season.
GW will play exhibition matches against James Madison, 2010 NCAA Division I Tournament qualifier Old Dominion and NCAA Division III qualifier Catholic in the lead up to the season. The Colonials visit the Dukes Aug. 18 at 3:00 pm, and host the Monarchs Aug. 21 at 5:00 pm and Cardinals Aug. 25 at 5:00 pm. Coach Lidster's son Daniel is a senior forward at ODU.
The 11th annual DC College Cup will be played on the campus of George Mason University beginning Sept. 1, with GW opening the 2011 campaign against 2010 Patriot League finalist American at 5:00 pm. The Colonials will also meet Howard Sept. 3, at 5:00 pm.
GW then heads south for five of its next six matches, starting with the Coastal Carolina/adidas Invitational in Conway, S.C., Sept. 9 and 11. The Chanticleers, last year's Big South champions, host the Colonials at CCU Soccer Field Sept. 9 at 7:30 pm. GW will then battle USC Upstate in Conway Sept. 11 at 12:00 pm.
The Colonials host Bryant in their lone non-conference home match Sept. 17 at 1:00 pm, before completing non-conference play with three straight road matches. The squad visits north Florida for a pair of contests against Atlantic Sun opponents Jacksonville and Stetson at the Jacksonville Tournament Sept. 23 and 25. The Colonials visit the A-Sun semifinalist Dolphins Sept. 23 at 7:00 pm, and then take on the A-Sun finalist Hatters Sept. 25 at 12:00 pm. GW rounds out non-league action at Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., Oct. 1 at 7:00 pm.
Five of GW's nine Atlantic 10 matches this fall will be against bottom-tier finishers from the 2010 conference standings: Duquesne (ninth), Richmond (10th), Dayton (11th), Rhode Island (12th) and Saint Joseph's (14th). The Colonials host the Dukes, Spiders, and Hawks at Mount Vernon Field, along with home league matches against 2010 A-10 Championship qualifiers Temple and St. Bonaventure.
GW visits the Flyers, Rams, Massachusetts Minutemen and defending A-10 champion Xavier Musketeers to complete its nine-match league schedule. The 2011 A-10 Championship will be held at Saint Louis' Robert R. Hermann Stadium Nov. 10-13.
For the first time, men's and women's soccer will be live video streamed on the official athletics website, GWsports.com. Those interested in subscribing can visit GW All-Access to sign up for the service. Options include monthly service or an annual package that currently includes Colonials men's and women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and women's lacrosse.
In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries. The George Washington University Department of Athletics fields teams in 22 varsity sports (10 men's, 12 women's), 16 of which compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
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