VIDEO: Stephen Lyons Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After a 7-5-5 record in 2022, Carson-Newman men's soccer is set to compete against the same 17 opponents in 2023.

Carson-Newman will face three Gulf South Conference opponents and one Conference Carolinas school in its non-conference slate. While also facing a full conference slate that sent a pair of teams to the NCAA tournament this past season.

"Always top teams (non-conference opponents) and our conference opponents as well," Carson-Newman head coach Stephen Lyons said. "We just hope that is going to allow us to win games and put us in contention for the NCAA tournament. The ambition is to always compete in conference, win non-conference games and see where that sets us."

After beginning 2022 at home, C-N will hit the road for its first two games of 2023, with second all-time meetings against West Alabama on Aug 31 and Spring Hill on Sept 2. The Eagles beat both teams this past season.

"There is going to be challenges with that," Lyons said. But I think it could be really good for us to get some early season bonding against two tough opponents. We'll get to go spend the weekend away and hopefully that will integrate our new faces into the returning guys and hopefully start with two good wins."

Carson-Newman opens the home slate on Sept 6 against Young Harris, followed two days later by its SAC opener at home against Anderson.

The Eagles then will embark on a relatively long road stretch to wrap up the month of September. Lyons' crew plays just one of its final six games in September in Mossy Creek. C-N travels to Auburn Montgomery on Sept 13 and Wingate on Sept 16. That one home game is a midweek SAC contest against Emory & Henry. The longest road stretch of the season ends against three conference opponents to wrap up September.

When C-N welcomes Lenoir-Rhyne to McCown field to begin October, it will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the 2013 national runner up team.

"I am looking forward to meeting quite a few of them," Lyons said. "They were all great guys and they left an amazing legacy here and left us a challenge to compete with each year. Great group and hopefully we can get as many as possible on the field because what they achieved is just incredible."

Four of C-N's five games to end the regular season will be at home. The Eagles final non-conference game is against Lee on Sept 16. The Eagles are 1-4-1 all-time against the Flames.

Following that matchup with the Flames, C-N has an 11-day layoff before concluding the season with Limestone on Oct 28 and Tusculum on Nov 1 at home.

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