Weekly Notes | Team and Schedule Preview | Season Opening Video
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The men's soccer kicks off tomorrow with a match at Dordt College (Iowa) and we are finishing up our preview of the squad by position. After highlighting the offense on Monday and defense/goalkeepers yesterday, we took some time to talk to head coach Chris Hughes on his schedule and team cohesion. Hughes enters his second season at the helm after going 8-9-1 in 2012 and has a put together one of the most difficult schedules in the country that features numerous teams inside the Top-25.
In his first season in 2012, head coach Chris Hughes saw the team improve from four wins the year before to eight. In order to get back to the top of the conference and claim the school's first WHAC title since 2010, Hughes and his staff have put together a very demanding schedule which includes a 11 match road slate to start the season.
Past National Champions on the schedule
Davenport will face many national powers this season and it is one that includes a pair of past national champions. DU will hit the road to face Lindsey Wilson and then will also play a neutral match against University of Rio Grande at the Indiana Wesleyan Tournament.
Road Warriors
The Panthers will need to get used to playing from home as they start their season with 11 consecutive matches away from the Turf Field at Davenport. DU starts their season in Iowa with a pair of matches against Dordt and Northwestern and then follows with trips to Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois as well as numerous in state trips.
WHAC Slate
The WHAC expects to be another strong conference in 2013 and the Panthers are hoping their preseason rank of 7th within it has nothing by motivation written on it. DU will play its first three matches in league play on the road at Indiana Tech, Lawrence Tech and Madonna.
Strong WHAC Finish
Davenport will finish their WHAC schedule against the top teams in the conference from a year ago. DU will host Aquinas, Northwestern Ohio and Cornerstone in a 10 day span and finish it with Marygrove. Those four teams finished first, second, third and fifth in the league standings in 2012.
Men's Soccer Contact: Aaron Sagraves | 616-554-5045 | asagraves@davenport.edu
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