SU MEN’S SOCCER’S FIRST ACC SCHEDULE FEATURES ELITE COMPETITION

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Matches against seven teams that qualified for last year’s NCAA Tournament, including four of the last six national champions, highlight the Syracuse men’s soccer team’s 2013 schedule, released by Orange head coach Ian McIntyre on Tuesday, June 4. The Orange will play 18 regular-season games, including 11 conference matches, in its first year as a member of the ACC.

The schedule features 11 home dates and seven road matches. Included in the home schedule are visits by perennial national powers Notre Dame (Sept. 13) and Connecticut (Sept. 17), as well as 2009 NCAA champion Virginia (Sept. 28) and 2012 national semifinalist Maryland (Oct. 26).

“I am very excited for the Syracuse soccer community,” McIntyre said. “Our 2013 home schedule brings a high level of college soccer to Syracuse and I’m excited that our fans will have the opportunity to watch us compete against such storied programs at the SU Soccer Stadium.”

Following exhibitions against Fordham (Aug. 18) and 2012 NCAA runner-up Georgetown (Aug. 24), Syracuse begins the 2013 campaign at Colgate on Aug. 30. The team’s home opener is three days later versus Hartwick (Sept. 2).

The Orange’s first ACC contest is scheduled for Sept. 6 at Virginia Tech. The matchup with the Hokies precedes a three-game homestand versus Manhattan (Sept. 9), Notre Dame and Connecticut.

Syracuse returns to the road for an important league match on Sept. 20 at Duke.

Upon its return from Durham, Syracuse will host four games over the next two weeks as the Orange welcomes Massachusetts (Sept. 25), Virginia, Binghamton (Oct. 1) and NC State (Oct. 4) to The Salt City.

The Orange heads back out on the road briefly for a date with Boston College (Oct. 8) before returning home to host fellow ACC newcomer Pittsburgh on Oct. 12.

Road dates at North Carolina (Oct. 18) and Albany (Oct. 22) are next, followed by home ACC games against Maryland and Clemson (Nov. 1).

The Orange concludes the regular season at Wake Forest on Nov. 8.

The quarterfinal round of the 2013 ACC Men’s Soccer Championship will take place on Nov. 12 at campus sites. The ACC semifinals and championship match are slated for Nov. 15-17 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md.

“As a student-athlete you want to test yourself against the very best,” McIntyre said. “This schedule affords us the opportunity to compete against elite programs that have succeeded at the highest collegiate level. We look forward to embracing the challenges ahead as we transition into the ACC.”

2013 SYRACUSE MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE

August

Sun., Aug. 18 – Fordham (exhibition), 7 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 24 – at Georgetown (exhibition), 12 p.m.

Fri., Aug. 30 – at Colgate, 7 p.m.

September

Mon., Sept. 2 – Hartwick, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 6 – at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 9 – Manhattan, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 13 – Notre Dame, 7 p.m.

Tues., Sept. 17 – Connecticut, 7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 20 – at Duke, 7 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 25 – Massachusetts, 7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 28 – Virginia, 7 p.m.

October

Tues, Oct. 1 – Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 4 – N.C. State, 7 p.m.

Tues., Oct. 8 – at Boston College, 7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 12 – Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 18 – at North Carolina, 7 p.m.

Tues., Oct. 22 – at Albany, 7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 26 – Maryland, 7 p.m.

November

Fri., Nov. 1 – Clemson, 7 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 8 – at Wake Forest, 7 p.m.

Tues., Nov. 12 – ACC Quarterfinals, TBA

Fri., Nov. 15 – ACC Semifinals, TBA

Sun., Nov. 17 – ACC Final, TBA