June 18, 2009

Click here for the 2009 schedule

DAVIS, Calif.--- UC Davis head men's soccer coach Dwayne Shaffer announced the Aggies' 2009 schedule Thursday afternoon. The schedule features four teams that made the 2008 NCAA Division I Championship Tournament and a number of other teams that have recently challenged for postseason spots.

"When we put together a schedule we want to play the best teams possible," said Shaffer. "This season we were able to schedule some qualify teams and I'm excited to see what our team can do."

Following an exhibition game at Aggie Soccer Stadium against Chico State on August 23, the season officially opens with four straight road games. The Aggies open at San Jose State and then face Robert Morris and Central Arkansas at the UNLV tournament. The stretch ends against a UCLA team that finished last season ranked in the top 25 and earned a berth into the NCAA tournament as Pac-10 Conference champions.

The Aggies return home for their first official contest at Aggie Soccer Stadium on September 13 when they host Pac-10 member Washington. Another three-game road swing follows with New Mexico and Alabama A&M at the New Mexico tournament and a single game at Saint Mary's.

UC Davis ends its non-conference season at home on Sept. 27 against Sacramento State with points on the line in the annual Causeway Cup race. The Aggies have won the last three meetings in the rivalry.

"It's a great non-conference schedule for us," said Shaffer. "We get an opportunity to play some teams that are always competing for the national tournament and conference titles."

The Big West Conference had four teams, including UC Davis, qualify for the NCAA postseason last season. Along with the Aggies, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly and UC Irvine all advanced to the second round or further. The Aggies will face the other three teams twice. With the Big West Tournament added last year, teams play four of the six teams twice and the remaining two teams once. The conference home games come against UC Riverside (10/7), Cal State Fullerton (10/10), UC Santa Barbara (10/14), UC Irvine (10/24) and Cal Poly (10/31).

The top four teams in the conference will qualify for the Big West Tournament, which runs November 11 and 14. The Aggies made the tournament last season with a 4-2-4 record in conference play.

"Our conference schedule is extremely difficult," commented Shaffer. "We get all three of the other teams that made the NCAA tournament twice this year. I think all three will be better than they were last year. Also, the teams at the bottom of the standings will also be much improved."

Last season the Aggies finished with 13 wins and defeated Denver, 4-0, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.