Men's Soccer Announces Fall 2021 Schedule
8/12/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University men's soccer confirmed its effort to take on tough competition and prepare itself for when it's fully NCAA Division I postseason eligible in 2022 with the release of its 2021 schedule.
The Lancers' 20-match schedule includes eight home contests. As field improvements continue at the Lancer Soccer Complex, CBU's home games will be split between the Silver Lakes Athletics Complex in Norco and the OC Great Park in Irvine this fall.
"After a short turnaround from the spring, it's hard to believe we are already playing again. While it's a challenge to play our home games at a neutral site two seasons in a row, we also know that we have an awesome new facility coming soon," said Head Coach Coe Michaelson.
Coach Michaelson has lined up a tough schedule this season, showing full faith in his squad and its ability to meet the challenge heading into his sixth season leading the Lancers.
"We've scheduled some difficult non-conference opponents, but we also know that we have a big challenge in the WAC, which has really grown into a strong mid-major conference in men's soccer," he said. "We have big hopes for our season and a talented young squad, so we can't wait to get started."
The team will open the season on August 20 with an exhibition match in San Diego against a San Diego State Aztecs team who opens the season receiving votes in the preseason top-25 poll. CBU will then host the season opener again Pacific (Aug. 26) before closing out the opening month with a non-conference match against Dixie State in St. George, Utah (August 29).
The Lancers will then travel north to take on former Western Athletic Conference opponent CSU Bakersfield on September 2, where the all-time series is tied at 1-1. CBU will then get a rematch with the University of San Diego at home (Sept. 6) after the Lancers defeated the Toreros 4-1 last February.
The non-conference slate will conclude with four-straight road games. It begins with a short trip to UC Riverside (Sept. 9) for another exciting chapter of the Crosstown Showdown. That will be followed with trips to Spokane to challenge Gonzaga (Sept. 13) and CSUN (Sept. 16). CBU will close the book on non-conference play with a game at the University of St. Thomas In Minnesota (Sept. 20).
Six Western Athletic Conference school's ended the Spring 2021 season inside the Rating Performance Index (RPI) top-100. Grand Canyon (21), Air Force (46), San Jose State (50), University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (55), California Baptist (76), and Seattle U (87) all made the cut. The only other mid-major to provide as many teams in the top-100 was Conference USA, home of the defending National Champions from Marshall University, this speaks to the WAC's appreciated talent level.
WAC play begins CBU travels to UNLV (Sept. 25). The series record between the two teams leans slightly in UNLV's favor, as the Rebels hold a 2-1-1 record. CBU has the distinct goal advantage in the series, outscoring the Rebels 5-3 to this point.
A Texas two-step is up next as CBU heads to San Antonio to challenge Incarnate Word (Oct. 1), followed by an afternoon game in Edinburg against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Oct. 3). CBU is a perfect 3-0 against UIW while still in search of its first victory (0-2-1) against the Vaqueros.
The Lancers will return to Riverside to host a three-game homestand with Seattle U (Oct. 7), San Jose State (Oct. 9) and Dixie State (Oct. 16). Last season, CBU defeated the WAC preseason favorite Redhawks, 1-0, at home last season and downed Dixie State in convincing fashion with a five-goal shutout.
One final road trip will take the Lancers to Houston Baptist and Chicago State on October 22 and 24, respectively. The Lancers defeated the Huskies in their last match thanks to a pair of second-half goals. The match against the Cougars will be the first ever as CSU is in its inaugural season of men's soccer.
Another three-game series will close out the season, including two of the program's toughest tests of the season. First up, CBU will take on Grand Canyon, the spring 2021 regular season champion (Oct. 28). That contest will be followed by 90 minutes against Air Force (Oct. 30), the spring 2021 WAC Tournament champions. Both teams made the NCAA Tournament field in the spring and are listed among the nations best on the Preseason Top-25 poll, as GCU earned the ranking of number 22 in the country, and Air Force is receiving votes.
Senior Day festivities will take place under the lights of the OC Great Park on November 5 against Utah Valley. These same teams closed out the spring 2021 season together, with CBU earning the 4-1 win.
The Lancers' 20-match schedule includes eight home contests. As field improvements continue at the Lancer Soccer Complex, CBU's home games will be split between the Silver Lakes Athletics Complex in Norco and the OC Great Park in Irvine this fall.
"After a short turnaround from the spring, it's hard to believe we are already playing again. While it's a challenge to play our home games at a neutral site two seasons in a row, we also know that we have an awesome new facility coming soon," said Head Coach Coe Michaelson.
Coach Michaelson has lined up a tough schedule this season, showing full faith in his squad and its ability to meet the challenge heading into his sixth season leading the Lancers.
"We've scheduled some difficult non-conference opponents, but we also know that we have a big challenge in the WAC, which has really grown into a strong mid-major conference in men's soccer," he said. "We have big hopes for our season and a talented young squad, so we can't wait to get started."
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Can't wait to get this season started!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/hvo4tWVyPw— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) August 12, 2021
The team will open the season on August 20 with an exhibition match in San Diego against a San Diego State Aztecs team who opens the season receiving votes in the preseason top-25 poll. CBU will then host the season opener again Pacific (Aug. 26) before closing out the opening month with a non-conference match against Dixie State in St. George, Utah (August 29).
The Lancers will then travel north to take on former Western Athletic Conference opponent CSU Bakersfield on September 2, where the all-time series is tied at 1-1. CBU will then get a rematch with the University of San Diego at home (Sept. 6) after the Lancers defeated the Toreros 4-1 last February.
The non-conference slate will conclude with four-straight road games. It begins with a short trip to UC Riverside (Sept. 9) for another exciting chapter of the Crosstown Showdown. That will be followed with trips to Spokane to challenge Gonzaga (Sept. 13) and CSUN (Sept. 16). CBU will close the book on non-conference play with a game at the University of St. Thomas In Minnesota (Sept. 20).
Six Western Athletic Conference school's ended the Spring 2021 season inside the Rating Performance Index (RPI) top-100. Grand Canyon (21), Air Force (46), San Jose State (50), University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (55), California Baptist (76), and Seattle U (87) all made the cut. The only other mid-major to provide as many teams in the top-100 was Conference USA, home of the defending National Champions from Marshall University, this speaks to the WAC's appreciated talent level.
WAC play begins CBU travels to UNLV (Sept. 25). The series record between the two teams leans slightly in UNLV's favor, as the Rebels hold a 2-1-1 record. CBU has the distinct goal advantage in the series, outscoring the Rebels 5-3 to this point.
A Texas two-step is up next as CBU heads to San Antonio to challenge Incarnate Word (Oct. 1), followed by an afternoon game in Edinburg against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Oct. 3). CBU is a perfect 3-0 against UIW while still in search of its first victory (0-2-1) against the Vaqueros.
The Lancers will return to Riverside to host a three-game homestand with Seattle U (Oct. 7), San Jose State (Oct. 9) and Dixie State (Oct. 16). Last season, CBU defeated the WAC preseason favorite Redhawks, 1-0, at home last season and downed Dixie State in convincing fashion with a five-goal shutout.
One final road trip will take the Lancers to Houston Baptist and Chicago State on October 22 and 24, respectively. The Lancers defeated the Huskies in their last match thanks to a pair of second-half goals. The match against the Cougars will be the first ever as CSU is in its inaugural season of men's soccer.
Another three-game series will close out the season, including two of the program's toughest tests of the season. First up, CBU will take on Grand Canyon, the spring 2021 regular season champion (Oct. 28). That contest will be followed by 90 minutes against Air Force (Oct. 30), the spring 2021 WAC Tournament champions. Both teams made the NCAA Tournament field in the spring and are listed among the nations best on the Preseason Top-25 poll, as GCU earned the ranking of number 22 in the country, and Air Force is receiving votes.
Senior Day festivities will take place under the lights of the OC Great Park on November 5 against Utah Valley. These same teams closed out the spring 2021 season together, with CBU earning the 4-1 win.
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