SBU Men’s Soccer Unveils 2012 Schedule
Complete 2012 Schedule
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Two re-matches and two tilts against opponents who defeated top-10 teams last season highlight a challenging start to the 2012 schedule for the St. Bonaventure men's soccer team as announced Wednesday by head coach Mel Mahler.
The season gets under way with a six games away from McGraw-Jennings Field, starting in Ohio as the Bonnies take on Bowling Green on Aug. 25. BG defeated No. 9 Michigan at home, 2-0, last year. From there, the road trip stops in Buffalo for a date with Big 4 rival University at Buffalo on Aug. 28.
SBU then heads south to Harrisonburg, Va. for the James Madison Invitational Tournament. The Bonnies will face James Madison Aug. 31 to get the invitational underway. JMU advanced to the Second Round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, defeating Wake Forest in the First Round, 2-0, before succumbing to Connecticut. JMU also returns National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America Second Team member Paul Wyatt. The second game of the invitational will pit the Bonnies against ACC foe Virginia Tech, Sept. 2. The Hokies defeated No. 1 North Carolina last season for their only conference victory.
The road trip then heads back north to Oneonta, N.Y. where the Bonnies will participate in the Mayor's Cup Invitational, hosted by Hartwick College. SBU takes the field against the host school on Sept. 7 followed by a Sept. 9 tilt with Syracuse.
The Bonnies will finally open their home docket with a matchup against St. Francis (Pa.) Sept. 16. The Red Flash posted a 10-6-2 record last season and return Mid-American Conference First Team member Greg Mathers as well as All-Conference Second Team member Simon Greatwich.
The following weekend includes two matchups against Little Three rivals Canisius, Sept. 21, and Niagara Sept. 23. St. Bona will be trying to avenge losses to both of those teams last season.
Seven days later, a match with Siena at home will set the tone for the Atlantic 10 Conference slate. Two of Siena's five victories last season came against nationally ranked opponents. The Saints defeated No. 15 Ohio State as well as No. 16 Iona.
A weekend trip to Philadelphia commences the A-10 season and will feature matchups with Temple on Friday, Oct. 5, and Saint Joseph's on Sunday, Oct. 7. The Bonnies played both teams tough but suffered losses to each last campaign.
The Bonnies will finish the conference slate with five of their remaining seven matchups at home. They will welcome Duquesne, who they tied last season, on Oct. 14. Duquesne features A-10 Offensive Player of the Year Joshua Patterson and First Team All-Conference selections, Adam Clement and Simon Gomez.
The next weekend Dayton arrives for an Oct. 19 match, and then SBU welcomes two-time defending A-10 champion Xavier on Oct. 21. Xavier finished the season ranked No. 25 in the nation and was ranked as high as No. 23 at one point. The Musketeers fell to West Virginia in the First Round the NCAA Tournament in overtime.
Bona heads to Amherst to face Massachusetts on Oct. 26. UMass defeated No. 19 Bradley last season, 2-1, and the Minutemen and SBU battled a 0-0 tie last year. The Bonnies will follow that up by running into reigning A-10 Rookie of the Year Matt Sykes and his Rhode Island teammates for an Oct. 28 match.
St. Bonaventure returns home to wrap up the conference slate in one weekend, first with a tilt against La Salle on Nov. 2 before concluding the regular season on Nov. 4 opposite Fordham. That Sunday matinee will also serve as Senior Day for the program.
SBU will look to return to the Atlantic 10 Championship after a one-year hiatus. The tournament will be held Nov. 8-11 on Charlotte's campus. The 49ers are the defending national runner-up.
