Men's Soccer Reveals 2012 Schedule
June 08, 2012 | Men's Soccer
June 8, 2012
2012 SCHEDULE | BUY SEASON TICKETS HERE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's soccer head coach Ken Lolla has announced the Cardinals' 2012 schedule that features nine 2011 NCAA Tournament teams and home matches against powerhouse opponents Indiana, St. John's, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wake Forest, UC Irvine and instate rival Kentucky. Eight opponents ranked in the Top 25 a season ago.
"The 2012 schedule is consistently with our philosophy of playing the best schedule possible for the development of the team," said Lolla. "The home schedule in particular is one of the best in recent history highlighted by our national television exposure on Fox Soccer against St. John's."
The Cardinals will play 17 regular-season games. Louisville takes part in its first of three exhibition matches on Aug. 12 at UAB, followed by one against Big Ten opponent Wisconsin on Aug. 18 in Fort Wayne, Ind. The Cardinals return to the friendly confines of Cardinal Park for a final warm up against Lipscomb on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.
Louisville officially opens the 2012 season on the road against Maryland on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in a rematch of the Cardinals thrilling Sweet 16 road win last season. The Cardinals return home on Sept. 1 to begin the home schedule against Belmont at 7 p.m. Louisville then travels to St. Louis on Sept. 4.
The Cardinals return to Cardinal Park for a difficult five-game home stand, beginning with Army on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. They will then face NCAA Tournament opponent Wake Forest on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Louisville will then host in state rival Kentucky on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Ohio State wraps up the nonconference opponents on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
The Cardinals will kick off BIG EAST action on for the second straight season against Notre Dame on Sept. 22. The Cards will then travel to Rutgers on Sept. 29. The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Sweet 16 last season before falling to UCLA. Louisville will then return home to host DePaul on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. and then hit the road to face Syracuse on Oct. 6.
Louisville will then hit another tough three game stint, starting with an out of conference game against Sweet 16 participant Indiana in Cardinal Park on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. They will then host St. John's in a nationally televised Fox Soccer Channel game on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. The Cardinals will then travel to USF on Oct. 17.
The Cardinals conclude the home slate with consecutive matches. Louisville will host Villanova on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. The Cardinals will then take a break from league play as they host UC Irvine on Oct. 24 for Senior Day at 7 p.m. The Cardinals will then travel to Cincinnati on Oct. 27 to wrap up the regular season.
The BIG EAST Conference Championship will take place Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at campus sites, with the final four competing Nov. 9-11 at Red Bull Stadium in Harrison, N.J.
Season tickets are on sale at the University of Louisville Athletic Ticket Office.
