VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With an eye on being on the inside looking out of the NCAA Super Regionals, Carson-Newman head men's soccer coach Stephen Lyons has upgraded the Eagles' non-conference slate for the 2022 campaign. 

Carson-Newman will face three Gulf South Conference foes, as well as perennial Peach Belt Conference power Young Harris to help bolster the reigning South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Champions NCAA tournament resume. 

"We definitely wanted to add good quality," Lyons said. "We want to put ourselves against the best to test ourselves and see where we are, but also to see if we can get up there regionally to look to make that national tournament."

Carson-Newman opens the season Aug. 25 and 27 against West Alabama and Spring Hill, respectively, out of the Gulf South Conference.  These will be the first meetings ever with the two programs. 

Carson-Newman hits the road to close the month of August at Young Harris. The Eagles are 1-7 against the Mountain Lions all-time.  The Mountain Lions were unbeaten last season with a record of 18-0-2 and ranked No. 1 for much of the season.  YHC was bounced from the NCAA tournament on penalties by Auburn Montgomery in the third round of the tournament. 

The Eagles wrap up non-conference play on Sept. 3 at Lee with a road trip to the Flames out of the Gulf South.  The Eagles are 1-4 all-time against Lee.  C-N dropped a 3-1 decision after conceding twice in the first 10 minutes of the game. 

Carson-Newman cranks open South Atlantic Conference play on Sept. 7 with back-to-back road trips to Limestone and Anderson.

"The South Atlantic Conference is a solid conference in and of itself," Lyons said. "It's a quick preseason for us and hopefully the guys will come in fit and ready for preseason camp. It is crazy how straight into action this is." 

The Eagles open the home portion of the league schedule Sept. 17 against Wingate.

The league schedule is wonky thanks to the departure of Queens for Division I and the Atlantic Sun. 

Carson-Newman will play host to Newberry for its senior day on Oct. 1 in its penultimate home game before wrapping up the home portion of the schedule Oct. 12 against Lincoln Memorial. 

C-N has an 11-day layoff before the conclusion of the regular season on Oct. 26 at Tusculum. 

All home games will be available through the Eagle Sports Network on FloSports.