Falcons Release 2012 Men's Soccer Schedule
6/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 4, 2012
Coming off its best season in 14 years, the Air Force Academy men's soccer team and head coach Doug Hill released their 2012 schedule today. The Falcons, whose 12 wins last season were the most since the 1997 squad won 13, will open the regular season on Saturday, August 25 at service-academy rival Army, then play their first home game on Friday, Aug. 31 against UC Davis during Parents' Weekend.
Air Force hosts Drexel on Sunday, Sept. 2 then travels to Philadelphia, Pa., for games against Penn (Sept. 7) and Villanova (Sept. 9). Home games against Oral Roberts on Sept. 14 and Presbyterian on Sept. 16 precede a trip to the other coast and games against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 20 and Cal State Northridge on Sept. 22.
Following the trip to California, Air Force will begin its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation slate on Saturday, Sept. 29 at home against the University of Denver. The Falcons will host four other conference games this season, against defending MPSF champion New Mexico (Oct. 12), conference newcomer Houston Baptist (Oct. 14), Seattle University (Oct. 19) and San Jose State (Oct. 21). The MPSF Tournament will begin on Thurs., Nov. 8 in Albuquerque, N.M., while the 2012 NCAA Tournament opens on Thursday, Nov. 15.
"I am very pleased with the way the schedule worked out, having a challenging non-conference schedule that will prepare us well for conference play," said Hill, who will enter his sixth season as head coach. "Playing good teams in non-conference play gives us a better opportunity to receive an at-large NCAA bid if we do well with those games and in conference play."
The eight-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation will once again split into two four-team divisions for the 2012 campaign. Air Force will be in the Mountain Division with New Mexico, Houston Baptist and Denver and will play each of those schools in a home-and-home series. The Falcons will play the four schools in the Pacific Division, San Jose State, UNLV, Seattle University and Cal. State-Bakersfield, just one time for a total of 10 conference games.
Air Force finished 12-6-2 overall and in second place in the Mountain Division with a 5-3-2 mark last season.
