DENVER - The 2008 University of Denver men’s soccer schedule includes home dates against the New Mexico Lobos and San Diego State, as well as tough rough tests at St. Louis and Creighton, head coach Bobby Muuss announced today.

 

“We have put together a good, competitive schedule that should prove to be exciting,” Muuss said. “Tough road games against national powers St. Louis and Creighton, a match versus a very good Dayton team and a Big Ten opponent in Wisconsin will be great tests for us as we continue to strengthen our program and compete with the national elites. It should give our returnees a great opportunity and will help mold our young players for the exciting future of Denver soccer.”

 

The Pioneers open the 2008 slate at the Dayton Flyer Classic against Dayton (Aug. 29) and Wisconsin (Aug. 31).

 

DU hosts Loyola Chicago (Sept. 5) in the home opener and remains at Pioneer Field the following weekend with match-ups against San Diego State (Sept. 12) and Cal State Fullerton (Sept. 14).

 

A two-game road stretch will test the Pioneers, as DU travels to Saint Louis (Sept. 20) and Creighton (Sept. 27). The Billikens and Bluejays both made last season’s NCAA Tournament, where they both lost to Illinois-Chicago: Saint Louis in the first round and Creighton in the regional semifinals.

 

“Those two games will provide a great challenge that will help us as we head into conference play,” Muuss said.

 

Denver returns to Pioneer Field to open Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play against four-time defending conference champion New Mexico (Oct. 3) and UNLV (Oct. 5).

 

DU then heads to the road for three games, facing Air Force (Oct. 11), San Jose State (Oct. 17) and Sacramento State (Oct. 19).

 

The Pioneers conclude their home schedule with a four-game stretch: Alabama A&M (Oct. 25), San Jose State (Oct. 31), Sacramento State (Nov. 2) and Air Force (Nov. 4).

 

The regular season concludes with a pair of road games at UNLV (Nov. 14) and New Mexico (Nov. 16). Last season, the Pioneers needed a win in the final game against the Lobos at Pioneer Field to win the MPSF title, but DU and New Mexico played to a 0-0 tie after two overtimes.

 

The Pioneers compiled a 10-4-4 record in 2007, including 6-1-3 in conference play.