NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men's soccer team starts with four home games, including the Wildcat Invitational, as head coach Nick Papanicolas announces the 2017 schedule.
The Wildcats look to return to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in its NCAA era in 2017 after narrowly missing the postseason tournament last year with a 12-6-1 overall record. If the past proves anything, the Wildcats are already starting 2017 on the right foot as they have advanced to the NCAA Tournament all in odd seasons. They made their first trip in 2009 before making return trips in 2013 and 2015.
Throughout the 2017 season, the Wildcats will play two teams that reached the 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round and three more teams that were ranked in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) regional polls of the season.
The 2017 season starts with the Wildcat Invitational at the WU Athletics Complex on August 31 and September 2. The Wildcats open the season with Millersville, ranked fourth in the last NSCAA Atlantic Regional Poll of 2016, on August 31 before playing the District of Columbia on Saturday, September 2, to wrap up the Wildcat Invitational. The Wildcats also host West Chester on Wednesday, September 6 at the WU Athletics Complex. The Golden Rams were the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA Tournament last season, and received votes in the final NSCAA National Poll.
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule opens with the fourth straight home game of the season on Saturday, September 9 against Felician. The first road test is set for Wednesday, September 13 at Holy Family before the team head to Bloomfield on September 16. The Wildcats welcome crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom to the WU Athletics Complex on September 19 before they head to Nyack on Saturday, September 23.
The Wildcats step away from the CACC to head to LIU Post on September 26. The Pioneers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as the East Region's No. 1 seed. They finished the 2016 season as the No. 8 team in the NSCAA National Poll. They Wildcats remain in New York that week and head to NYIT for another nonconference game on the 28th. The Bears were ranked No. 9 in the final NSCAA East Regional Poll of 2016.
September wraps up with another CACC home contest on Saturday, September 30 as the Wildcats take on Caldwell.
Seven games in October wrap up the regular season for the Wildcats, as they will host Dominican for Homecoming on Saturday, October 7. They will also welcome Post and Philadelphia to the WU Athletics throughout the month.
The Wildcats will head to reigning CACC Tournament Champion Georgian Court to start October while also going to Chestnut Hill, Bridgeport, and Concordia. Georgian Court was also ranked No. 8 in the final NSCAA East Region Poll last season.
The eight best teams throughout the regular season advance to the CACC Tournament, which begins with the First Round on Monday, October 30 at the higher seed. The winners move on to the CACC Tournament Semifinals hosted by Georgian Court on November 3. A champion will be crowned in Lakewood, N.J., on Sunday, November 5.
AGATE
2017 Wilmington University Men's Soccer Schedule:
August:
22 – at Palm Beach Atlantic (exhibition); 24 – at Barry (exhibition); 26 – at Mercy (exhibition); 31 – vs. Millersville
September:
2 – vs. District of Columbia; 6 – vs. West Chester; 9 vs. *Felician; 13 – at *Holy Family; 16 – at *Bloomfield; 19 – vs. *Goldey-Beacom; 23 – at *Nyack; 26 – at LIU Post; 28 – at NYIT; 30 – vs. *Caldwell
October:
3 – at *Georgian Court; 7 – vs. Dominican (Homecoming); 11 – at *Chestnut Hill; 14 – vs. Post; 17 – at Bridgeport; 21 – at *Concordia; 25 – vs. *Philadelphia; 30 – at CACC Tournament First Round
November:
3 – at CACC Tournament Semifinals (Lakewood, N.J.); 5 – at CACC Tournament Championship (Lakewood, N.J.)