June 27, 2008

2008 Schedule

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--The 2008 Saint Joseph's men's soccer schedule was announced today by head coach Tom Turner. SJU will host six matches on newly renovated Finnesey Field, including the last four Atlantic 10 games of the season.

The Hawks will stay close to home for the first month of the season, despite hosting just two home games. A season opening game at cross-city rival Drexel on September 4 at Vidas Field is the first of three matches versus CAA opponents. Five days later, Saint Joseph's travels to Newark, Delaware to take on the Blue Hens of Delaware.

SJU returns home to take on Navy in its home opener on September 12, the first game on Finnesey Field's new TigerTurf surface, currently being installed. A twelve-day break gives Saint Joseph's ample time to rest before its next game at George Mason on September 24.

The Hawks' final away non-conference game of the season takes them to face-off against the Rider Broncs on October 4. The Broncs defeated SJU 2-0 on Finnesey Field in 2007. SJU's final home non-conference game comes against another New Jersey school as the Highlanders of NJIT come to Hawk Hill on October 7.

As for the Atlantic 10 Conference slate of games, SJU fared well with its draw. Although all 14 Conference school field men's soccer teams, there is only time for nine games in its schedule. SJU faces none of the top four teams (Saint Louis, Rhode Island, UMass, and Charlotte) from 2007. Last year, the Hawks' four of the five conference losses came from those teams.

This season, SJU starts with a five game road stretch with two two-game road swings. Firstly are St. Bonaventure and Duquesne on October 10 and 12. SJU faced neither team in 2007.

Next after that is Richmond and George Washington the following weekend on October 17 and 19. SJU defeated Richmond, 1-0 and GW 2-1 in double overtime. The 1-0 victory was the first win over the Spiders in men's soccer history.

SJU takes on Temple on October 24 in a single-match weekend. The Hawks defeated the Owls, the A-10's last place team in 2007, 1-0 on Hawk Hill.

To conclude the season, SJU hosts four straight conference games against Xavier and Dayton on October 31 and November 2; and La Salle and Fordham on November 7 and 9. SJU defeated Xavire 1-0 in overtime, while dropping a 4-1 decision to the Flyers in 2007. The Hawks didn't face Fordham last year, but fell to the Explorers 4-1 in a non-conference game at McCarthy Stadium.

SJU returns eight of its 11 starters from 2007, a team that went 5-12-1 (4-5 Atlantic 10), including leading scorer and reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Colin Baker.