Jefferson City, Tenn. – A third of Carson-Newman's men's soccer team's home contests will be against NCAA tournament competition in 2012.

Two late October home games against Anderson (October 20) and Mars Hill (October 27), coupled with a September 9 showdown against Lees-McCrae put the Eagles against top flight competition.

"It was important to put some good teams on the schedule," Moodie said. "It lets the boys know where we're at and that we can still play and compete at a very high level."

Home was where the heart was for CN in 2011.  The Eagles were 5-3 within the friendly confines of McCown Field. 

"Even from my playing days here, it's an unwritten rule that you never lose at home," Moodie said. "If you win out with your home games, you'll be much better off in the South Atlantic Conference."

The Eagles will be road warriors for the first part of the season.  After an exhibition home opener August 18 against Tennessee Wesleyan, CN plays six in a row on the road before its regular season home opener against Lincoln Memorial September 19 at 7:30 p.m.

"Our schedule for us this year is a little lopsided from where were on the road  more than we are at home," Moodie said. "But we should be at a level with this program where we can go on the road, be it an hour to Tusculum or 15 hours to Florida and pick up a win."

In his second season at the helm of the Eagles' soccer program, Moodie aims to take CN back to where it was in his playing days at the school.

While garbed in a blue and orange uniform, Moodie garnered first team All South Atlantic Conference and helped the Eagles to their deepest run in the NCAA tournament – the quarterfinals in 2005.

-CN-