VIDEO: Richard Moodie Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men's soccer coach Richard Moodie has unwrapped the 2015 men's soccer schedule which will feature two mid-October clashes with a pair of NCAA tournament teams at McCown Field. 

The Eagles will play eight home games, including three against teams that made the NCAA tournament a year ago. 

Carson-Newman opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 5 with Alabama-Huntsville before a trip to Belmont Abbey four days later.  The Eagles then return home to play four of their next five at Mossy Creek beginning with NCAA tournament foe USC Aiken Sept. 12 and continuing with their first SAC game against Lenoir-Rhyne on Sept. 16.

"We seemed to struggle at home last year with the men, but that also could be owed to a slow start at Saint Leo and Tampa," Moodie said. "If we can get off on the right foot and be in control, it's much easier to play like that than to recover."

After spending nearly the entire month of September at home, the Eagles hit the road for four straight to start October.  That sets up to big-time matchups with regional foes.  Young Harris, which made the Elite Eight last year, comes to down Oct. 13 with round of 32 participant and SAC champ Wingate following on the Mountain Lions heels Oct. 17 on homecoming.

"We feel like this schedule will help us to compete nationally," Moodie said. "The conference helps us to do that. If you can win the regular season conference championship, you have a great chance of making the national tournament. This schedule sets us up to help accomplish that goal."

Carson-Newman closes out its home schedule with senior day against Brevard on Oct. 24 before back-to-back contests at Tusculum and Coker to close out the regular season.