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The Florida Gulf Coast men’s soccer team kicks off its 18-game regular season campaign in the fall with six straight games on the road.

The Eagles first play two preseason matches at Eckerd College on Aug. 17 and another Aug. 22 against an opponent yet to be determined.

Their first two regular-season games are at Columbus, Ohio, in the OSU Classic against Ohio State (Aug. 29) and Penn State (Aug. 31).

The stretch concludes with games in Oneonta, N.Y., against Hartwick College (Sept. 5) and Syracuse (Sept. 7) at the Soccer Hall of Fame.

“I think it is important to play a very strong non-conference schedule,” said Eagles coach Bob Butehorn. “Going out and playing this level of competition is only going to make us better. In order to become a great team, we have to face great teams on a regular basis if we want to improve.”

FGCU then plays four consecutive games at their new on-campus soccer complex, beginning Sept. 12 against Seattle University. The Eagles then host the Embassy Suites Classic in which they face Holy Cross (Sept. 19) and Fairfield (Sept. 21). They wrap up the four-game homestand Sept. 28 against Florida International.

The Atlantic Sun conference schedule begins with a pair of road trips to Mercer (Oct. 2) and defending A-Sun champion Campbell (Oct. 4).

FGCU finishes the 2008 season at home against Florida Atlantic (Nov. 8).



FGCU Men’s Soccer Schedule

Aug. 17 — at Eckerd College (preseason), TBD

Aug. 22 — TBA (preseason), TBD

Aug. 29 — vs. Ohio State (at OSU Classic), 7 p.m.

Aug. 31 — vs. Penn State (at OSU Classic), 1 p.m.

Sept. 5 — at Hartwick College (Soccer Hall of Fame), 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 — at Syracuse (Soccer Hall of Fame), 12 p.m.

Sept. 12 — vs. Seattle University, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 — vs. Holy Cross (Embassy Suites Classic), 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 — vs. Fairfield (Embassy Suites Classic), 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 — vs. Florida International University, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at Mercer, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 — at Campbell, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 — vs. Stetson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 — vs. UNF, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19 — vs. Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 — at Belmont, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26 — at Lipscomb, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 — vs. ETSU, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2 — vs. USC-Upstate, 1 p.m.

Nov. 8 — vs. FAU, 7 p.m.