Men's Soccer Releases 2006 ScheduleMay 18, 2006
Printable 2006 Men's Soccer Schedule
MILWAUKEE - There will be no shortage of challenges in 2006 for new University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer head coach Jon Coleman. In fact, three of UWM's first six matches will come against NCAA Tournament teams, including national semifinalist Southern Methodist and national quarterfinalist Creighton. Plus, the Panthers welcome former coach Louis Bennett and Marquette to Engelmann Sept. 13, and open Horizon League play two days later at Detroit, which won the regular season crown a year ago. The schedule, released today by Coleman, adds up to one of the most difficult in recent years for the Panthers, who have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons. "Counting our exhibition games [UWM will play Bradley and Valparaiso], four of the first eight games we play will be against teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago," Coleman said. "We will be tested early and often." Not only will the Milwaukee Cup be on the line when the Panthers host Marquette Sept. 13, but the contest will mark the return of former UWM coach Louis Bennett to Engelmann Field for the first time. Coleman was an assistant under Bennett at UWM for nine seasons. "It will be good to see Louis and Stan (Anderson) and the rest of their staff," Coleman said. "It will be another good game for us and a chance to play a good team and prepare for the start of Horizon League play. I think it will help the rivalry grow and pick up, and will definitely add more excitement to the Milwaukee Cup. I hope the game will be standing room only ... we want to create a more exciting atmosphere for the players and prepare them for games down the road." The Panthers will start the season playing in three-straight tournaments, including the 33rd annual Panther Invitational at Engelmann Field. They begin the season Aug. 25-27 with a trip to Tulsa, Okla., for the Golden Hurricane Classic, where they will play Tulsa and Southern Methodist University. Milwaukee opens against host Tulsa, a team that played for the Conference USA Tournament Championship last season. They then take on an SMU squad that advanced to the Final Four of the College Cup last season before falling to eventual national champion Maryland. "The trip to Oklahoma will be one of our toughest-ever to start a season," Coleman said. "We will definitely get out of the gates quickly ... playing a Final Four team away from home before returning for the Panther Invitational." The Panther Invitational will see Wisconsin, Lipscomb and IPFW taking the field along with UWM. The Panthers will open against IPFW Sept. 1 before taking on Lipscomb Sept. 3. The team makes the quick turnaround and heads out of town for the Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wis., Sept. 8-10. While there, they will play two teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2005. Creighton - an Elite Eight squad a year ago - and Washington, who fell in the first round. The Panthers, winners of four of the past five regular season Horizon League championships, will then open league play on the road at Detroit Sept. 15, taking on the league champ from a year ago. "We start the Horizon League season on the road with a stiff test against our biggest league rival," Coleman said. "But we are familiar with the territory [UWM won the league tournament in Detroit last season] there and expect a good performance." Two more road games will be on the schedule before returning home, playing at Wisconsin Sept. 20 and Florida International Sept. 23. Once October hits, the Panthers will be able to put their suitcases away, as they play six of their final eight games at home, making just two short road trips to Chicago, Ill., for their final two road games. Milwaukee and Northern Illinois will battle for the John LeWang Trophy Oct. 1 at Engelmann before UWM heads to UIC Oct. 3. A five-game homestand starts after that, with Butler (Oct. 8), Big Ten rival Michigan (Oct. 13), Cleveland State (Oct. 15) and the battle for the Chancellor's Cup with UW-Green Bay (Oct. 18) all on the schedule. "We have been working hard at that [all the home games]," Coleman said. "Not only do we have nine home games, but all three of the cup games (Marquette, UWGB, NIU) are at home. This is a difficult place for opponents to play." The Panthers finish the regular season at Loyola Oct. 22 before the Horizon League Tournament gets underway starting Oct. 28. UWM has won the past four Horizon League Tournament Championships and four of the past five regular season crowns. They have advanced to the NCAA Tournament five-consecutive years and have played their way into the second round in each of the past four campaigns. Among the returnees are All-Horizon League choices Craig Mallace, Billy Meier and Steve Bode, as well as NCAA goals-against leader and Horizon League Tournament MVP Grant Fernstrum in goal.
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