VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – First-year Carson-Newman head soccer coach Stephen Lyons has unleashed the Eagles' 2017 soccer schedule, which features a whopping 11 road contests compared to six dates inside the friendly confines of McCown Field at Harvey Stadium.
The schedule also features four games against teams that made last year's NCAA Southeast Regional, including one against defending national champion Wingate on senior day Oct. 14.
"Obviously the regular season is big for us getting to play four teams that made the national tournament last year," Lyons said. "We tried to start with something that will enable us to be competitive and build from the start of the season."
C-N starts the year with three of four away from home. The Eagles open the season Sept. 2 at North Greenville, before a trip up the mountain takes them to Banner Elk and a Sept. 6 dates with Lees-McRae. The Eagles are 4-0 all-time against the Crusaders and 4-6 all-time against the Bobcats.
The home schedule opens Sept. 9 against Clayton State. It will be the second time in school history that the Eagles and Lakers have matched wits. C-N will to Clayton State 3-2 back in 1998.
"Some of that was just the way it fell," Lyons said. "The nice thing is that we'll be used to it, that way when we do make the tournament, we're prepared to play away from home. I hope it steels us and tests us."
C-N opens South Atlantic Conference play Sept. 13 with a short jaunt to Mars Hill.
After that, the schedule turns home heavy with three straight games at McCown Field and Harvey Stadium. Sept. 16 sees Newberry come to town for a 5 p.m. kickoff. The next Wednesday, the Eagles face the first of four teams that made postseason play last year with Lenoir-Rhyne before Queens completes the homestand Sept. 23.
Following that series of three straight home games, the Eagles only play two games in Jefferson City the rest of the year. C-N takes on rival Lincoln Memorial on Oct. 4 before closing out the home slate with defending national champion Wingate on Oct. 14.
The Eagles play nonconference road games against Alabama-Huntsville, Young Harris, Lander and King.
C-N closes the year with four straight road games, starting with an Oct. 18 date at Tusculum. C-N wraps up the regular season Oct. 28 at Coker.
DATEOPPONENTNOTESRESULTSTATUS
Sep. 02, 2017at North Greenville3:00 PM
Sep. 06, 2017at Lees-McRae7:30 PM
Sep. 09, 2017Clayton St.7:30 PM
Sep. 13, 2017at Mars Hill *7:30 PM
Sep. 16, 2017Newberry *5:00 PM
Sep. 20, 2017Lenoir-Rhyne *7:30 PM
Sep. 23, 2017Queens (N.C.) *5:00 PM
Sep. 27, 2017at Ala.-Huntsville5:00 PM
Sep. 30, 2017at Anderson (S.C.) *4:30 PM
Oct. 04, 2017Lincoln Memorial *7:30 PM
Oct. 07, 2017at Catawba *7:30 PM
Oct. 11, 2017at Young Harris7:00 PM
Oct. 14, 2017Wingate *7:30 PM
Oct. 18, 2017at Tusculum *7:30 PM
Oct. 21, 2017at Lander7:00 PM
Oct. 25, 2017at King (Tenn.)1:00 PM
Oct. 28, 2017at Coker *3:30 PM