2024 Schedules

[SierraFD3soccer]

Johns Hopkins

Heck of a way to start the non-conference schedule, playing at Washington & Lee and home to Sewanee on opening weekend and then hosting Kenyon and Rowan the following weekend.  They also host Mary Washington in a mid-week game sandwiched in-between the conference opener at Muhlenberg and the conference home opener against Ursinus.

Very true. May have one of the toughest out of conf. schedules.  It was strong last year, but this is even stronger. Plus W&L is about a 3.5-4 hr ride so they'll have to go the day before and made a commitment to travel even further to TN the next year. They could easily play any local team which are obviously much closer and less competitive.

[Hopkins92]

Zoinks. That's a doozy. Heck, St. Mary's, Rowan and R-UN are all capable of putting together quality squads in addition to the ones you guys highlighted.

[Kuiper]

It's a "Schools that start with the letter "M" theme"

Manchester

This kind of went under the radar, but Manchester was 10-1-8 last year.  They lost to Rose-Hulman in the HCAC Championship 1-0 for their only loss on the year, but if they had a stronger strength-of-schedule maybe they could have been the Williams of 2023 with only 1 loss and 8 ties.  Doesn't look like they did anything to rectify that situation and go for it this year.  They switched out Grace Christian (7-8-5 in NCCAA) and Illinois Tech (6-9-6) for Marian (3-8-4) and Saint Mary of the Woods (1-13-2 in NAIA).  If anything, they got an easier schedule.

Marian

Not too much to see here, but it is interesting to see that they include their "Varsity Reserve" games on their regular schedule.  You don't see that as much in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic or West, but it seems a bit  more common in the Upper Midwest.  They play Ripon and Carroll in Varsity games, but also their reserve squad plays each of those two schools twice in home-and-away games.  Unless they have a reserve roster not listed on their website Marian had 33 total players on the roster last year, which actually is pretty modest compared to some schools with Varsity Reserve or "JV" squads.

Macalester

They've switched out Wisconsin-Superior and Carthage for Wisconsin-Whitewater and Grinnell, which seems more or less like a wash.  Macalester will have enough SoS from Carleton, St. Olaf, and Gustavus Adolphus in conference.

[NEPAFAN]

Zoinks. 

Shaggy?

[Hopkins92]

Zoinks. 

Shaggy?

Are you meddling?

[Kuiper]

Rochester

Opens the season at SUNY Cortland and then has a tough road trip to Stevens at the end of September.  It played both teams at home last year.  It also plays Clarkson instead of Keuka, which is a big upgrade

Westminster

Swaps out Pitt-Greensburg for Penn State Altoona, but otherwise the same as last year.

[PauldingLightUP]

Beloit schedule features one MIAC, three SLIAC, two WIAC, one HCAC, two NACC, and one CCIW.

https://beloitcollegeathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024


And because I was double checking Westimnster. MO Blue Jay's features two ARC, two MWC, one NCAC, and two others. 

https://www.wcbluejays.com/sports/msoc/2024-25/schedule

[PauldingLightUP]

Hope features one MWC, one ASC, one OAC, three NCAC, two NACC, one SLIAC, and one UAA.

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

Carroll features one UMAC, one MIAC, three NACC, one MWC, two ARC, and one WIAC.

https://gopios.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

[Ron Boerger]

Hope features one MWC, one ASC, one OAC, three NCAC, two NACC, one SLIAC, and one UAA.

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

Carroll features one UMAC, one MIAC, three NACC, one MWC, two ARC, and one WIAC.

https://gopios.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

.500ish LeTourneau (TX) travelling all the way to MI to play Hope (and you'd imagine someone else while they're at it) is a real head-scratcher.  They do annually often take one out-of-region trip but this is more out-of-region than usual.   Next season will be their last in the ASC before moving to the SCAC. 

[Kuiper]

Hope features one MWC, one ASC, one OAC, three NCAC, two NACC, one SLIAC, and one UAA.

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

Carroll features one UMAC, one MIAC, three NACC, one MWC, two ARC, and one WIAC.

https://gopios.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

.500ish LeTourneau (TX) travelling all the way to MI to play Hope (and you'd imagine someone else while they're at it) is a real head-scratcher.  They do annually often take one out-of-region trip but this is more out-of-region than usual.   Next season will be their last in the ASC before moving to the SCAC. 

I saw that as well and the only thing I can figure is that LeTourneau's coach was trying to negotiate some home-and-away series when he thought it might not get the invitation to the SCAC and would need additional non-conference games in future years.  They only accepted the invite to the SCAC last month and presumably this deal was reached some time before then.  Plus, since they won't join the SCAC until next fall, they needed the two extra non-conference games this year, which made an out-of-state trip a good idea.  Of course, they might have been able to do that without going quite so far, but once you hop on an airplane, the extra cost isn't going to vary too greatly.

[mngopher]

https://athletics.stolaf.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

The defending national champs hosting a couple of teams from Region X as well as the expected trip to Chicago. A few other solid in-region non-conference opponents including UW Platteville and UW Eau Claire.

[Flying Weasel]

Hope features one MWC, one ASC, one OAC, three NCAC, two NACC, one SLIAC, and one UAA.

https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

Carroll features one UMAC, one MIAC, three NACC, one MWC, two ARC, and one WIAC.

https://gopios.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

.500ish LeTourneau (TX) travelling all the way to MI to play Hope (and you'd imagine someone else while they're at it) is a real head-scratcher.  They do annually often take one out-of-region trip but this is more out-of-region than usual.   Next season will be their last in the ASC before moving to the SCAC. 

I saw that as well and the only thing I can figure is that LeTourneau's coach was trying to negotiate some home-and-away series when he thought it might not get the invitation to the SCAC and would need additional non-conference games in future years.  They only accepted the invite to the SCAC last month and presumably this deal was reached some time before then.  Plus, since they won't join the SCAC until next fall, they needed the two extra non-conference games this year, which made an out-of-state trip a good idea.  Of course, they might have been able to do that without going quite so far, but once you hop on an airplane, the extra cost isn't going to vary too greatly.

LeTourneau is playing Calvin on Friday, Aug. 30 and Hope on Saturday, Aug. 31. 

One possible explanation for lining up these opponents is that LeTourneau is a Christian/faith-based institution as are Hope and Calvin, even if their historical and current-day denominational affiliations differ.  Hope and Calvin come from the Reformed tradition while LeTourneau, though always non-denominational, historically was more on the Baptist/evangelical/fundamental end of the spectrum.  (Full disclosure: as a very strong engineering school, LeTourneau was my second choice behind Messiah back in the late 80's.)

[Rcjh2245]

Kenyon

https://athletics.kenyon.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

Kenyon was spoiled last year with 12 home games, 2024 schedule features a more mainstream 8 home games. They add JHU and F&M to non-conference play which should make for an interesting weekend. Coach Travis Wall adds huge recruiting class of 15, ready to make his mark in his 2nd season with the Owls.

Ohio Wesleyan

https://battlingbishops.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule

OWU has similar start to 2024 season as in 2023. First 7 games are against 5 NCAA tourney contenders - and Mt. Union, 16-2-2 in 2023. Need to avoid a repeat of the 2022 season when they didn't see their first win until their 8th game. They always finish strong in conference play and cap their season vs. Denison.

 

[PaulNewman]

One of the things I expected with Wall was an upgrade on scheduling and willingness to travel. Just thrilled although the Owls have the toughest schedule I've seen for them since I've been following.

First 4 games...ONU, JCU, F&M, JHU...then later CNU, away at Trine who put a loss on the Owls last year, and Otterbein.

Excited about recruiting class. One downer...Alex Ramirez transferred back to his home state and so Trinity in TX will be getting a big pickup in create and distribute in the midfield.

[Another Mom]

Good to see youback, PaulNewman!