Men’s soccer announces full 2021 spring schedule
1/29/2021 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NASHVILLE - The Lipscomb men's soccer team and head coach Charles Morrow have announced the slate for the Bisons 2021 spring season.
Following the ASUN's release of the four-game conference schedule in October, the Bisons are rounding out the lineup with eight nonconferences matches.
Lipscomb will kick off the long-delayed season on Saturday, Feb. 6 against Evansville at 6 p.m. at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
"First of all, we're really happy to be back playing," Morrow said. "This fall was extremely difficult. That being said, I'm grateful that we had that time. We've learned a lot in how to better function with all the COVID protocols.
"So we're really thankful for our administrators and the conference administrators. The work that's being done to make sure that we can be out there is much appreciated. We're grateful for that leadership. That's first and foremost."
The matchup with the Purple Aces will be the first of three straight home games to begin the season with Alabama-Huntsville (Feb. 9) and East Tennessee State (Feb. 13) also visiting.
The Bisons first road match of the season will come on Feb. 16 at the 2019 C-USA champions Marshall. The Thundering Herd reached the Sweet 16 of the 2019 NCAA College Cup and were the 11th overall seed in the tournament.
"It's a tough schedule," Morrow said. "It was tough to get games. There's a lot that goes into it. With a lot of conferences being inwardly focused on their conference and some just playing conference-only, it's made it even more challenging. So with all that being said, in terms of our strength of schedule, I'm happy considering the limitations and struggles that we faced in trying to get a schedule together."
On March 2, the Purple and Gold will make the cross-town trip to take on Battle of the Boulevard rivals Belmont, before heading to Saint Louis on March 7 to face the Billikens.
Lipscomb will close out the nonconference slate against a pair of tough Sun Belt opponents. On March 16, the Bisons will host Central Arkansas, who was ranked 33 in the final RPI poll for 2019. Then the Bisons will travel to Coastal Carolina on March 20 to take on the 2019 Sun Belt champions.
"I feel really good about the schedule that we've got," Morrow said. "I think it gives enough games where the guys feel like it's almost a complete season, and I think it will do well in preparing us ultimately for the conference championship and hopefully beyond. Ideally by the time you get to conference play you're not going to see anything that you haven't already seen."
In all, Lipscomb four of Lipscomb's eight nonconference opponents were ranked in the top 60 of the final 2019 RPI poll, and the Bisons will face opponents from eight different conferences: ASUN, MVC, Gulf South, SoCon, C-USA, OVC, Sun Belt, and A10.
Lipscomb will close out its exhibition schedule on Saturday by welcoming UAB for a 5 p.m. kickoff.
**Lipscomb's updated COVID guidelines for spring sports can be found HERE**
SEASON TICKETS:
Soccer season tickets will cost $50 and come with admission to ALL regular season soccer games for the men's and women's programs. In addition to season tickets, Lipscomb Athletics will package a Lipscomb branded UA beanie with each order. You can order your tickets HERE.
