Contact: Christina Cracolici
Phone: (315) 228-6761
July 9, 2001
Hamilton, NY — Eleven home games, including the 2002 Raider Classic, highlight the 51·çÁ÷ men’s soccer schedule released today. Besides their four home Patriot League contests, the Raiders will play four intrastate rivals from four different conferences: St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10), Syracuse (Big East), Cornell (Ivy League) and Siena (Metro Atlantic).
51·çÁ÷ will open its campaign on Saturday, August 31 on the road against the Virginia Military Institute. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men’s soccer. Following the VMI game, the Raiders will return home for the next four contests. The home opener will be against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, September 7 before facing local rival Syracuse on Tuesday, September 10. Over the last two seasons, the 51·çÁ÷-Syracuse game has gone to overtime to decide the winner with the Raiders coming away victorious in 2000 and the Orangemen in 2001.
Following the first two home games of the season, Van Doren Field will play host to the 2002 Raider Classic on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14, with teams including Maine, Duquesne and Rider.
The Raiders open their Patriot League season on the road at Bucknell on Saturday, September 21. A week later, 51·çÁ÷’s league home opener pits the Raiders against Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. They will close out regular season play on Saturday, November 9 against defending Patriot League’s champion American University. Last season, the Eagles advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.