Morehead State soccer will compete in 18 regular season matches in 2017, facing three new opponents the Eagles did not encounter last season.
"Our idea in the spring was to get these young players all on the same page, understanding the system," said head coach Warren Lipka. "They've done an outstanding job. It all leads into a very demanding schedule in the fall."
The Eagles kick off the 2017 campaign with the first of five non-conference road tests, traveling to Cullowhee, N.C. for a matchup with Western Carolina on Aug. 18. Morehead State defeated the Catamounts 2-1 at Jayne Stadium a season ago.
"You can't deny experience and players gaining confidence through experience," Lipka said. "You see it through every level of the game. I feel that we're a team that relies on us gaining more experience year in and year out."
MSU opens an eight-game home slate with Northern Kentucky on Aug. 21, before hosting Bowling Green on Aug. 25. The Eagles fell to the Norse 1-0 on the road a season ago, but defeated the Falcons 2-1 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Morehead State plays at Chattanooga on Sept. 3 and at Evansville on Sept. 10, teams with whom the Eagles competed in back-to-back double-overtime matches at Jayne Stadium in 2016.
"I feel very confident that this team coming into the fall is more mature," said Lipka. "They've been in the weight room another season, playing together, and focusing on our system."
In addition to a road tilt at Kennesaw State on Sept. 1, the Eagles polish off the non-conference portion of the schedule amid Ohio Valley Conference play. Morehead State hosts Kent State on Sept. 17 and battles at Cincinnati on Oct. 6.
"Our non-conference schedule is a good balance," Lipka said. "They are teams that have done really well in their respective conferences. We're excited to be challenged in many ways - not only in level of competition, but in traveling and playing very difficult opponents on the road. The main idea is to prepare us for a demanding conference schedule."
The Eagles host Murray State on Sept. 14, the first of four consecutive home matches. A Sept. 29 visit to SIU Edwardsville marks the first of five straight games out of state, before concluding the season with two of three matches at Jayne Stadium.
Morehead State completes the 2017 regular season schedule versus Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 26.
"I schedule tough, whether we have 25 seniors or 25 freshmen," said Lipka. "Looking back, it's helped us in the long run. We were close in many of our games last year. The addition of our team gaining confidence in how we're going to play helps push us forward."
With 79 percent of its total minutes allotted to underclassmen, Morehead State finished with a record of 6-11-2 (3-6-1 OVC) in 2016. The Eagles did not compete in postseason action for the first time since 2012, a year before earning the program's last OVC Tournament crown. MSU brings back 10 of last season's top 11 performers, including Second Team All-OVC forward and OVC Freshman of the Year Ashley Ritchie.
"It's invaluable for us to be able to get our players here in the spring and train how we want to train them," Lipka said. "It's been a really successful spring so far."
A recap of Morehead State's spring training session will be available on MSUEagles.com as the tune-up competition comes to a close. Morehead State travels to Butler for its first of two fall exhibition matches on Aug. 11, before tuning up at home versus Valparaiso on Aug. 13.
Story provided by: Morehead State Athletics