Orange Set to Face Nine Tournament Teams in 2018

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse women's soccer is one step closer to the 2018 season! 'Cuse announced its 2018 campaign schedule on Thursday, highlighted by rivalries, first-time meetings, rematches and, above-all, high-quality competition.

On the schedule for the upcoming season is six opponents that ranked in the top 25 when the final rankings came out following the conclusion of the 2017 season. Two teams, Duke and Penn State, earned top-five rankings by the United Soccer Coaches.

Nine of the Orange's 18 opponents earned NCAA Tournament berths in 2017 with Duke and Penn State each making quarterfinal appearances. Seven of those nine teams were schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Orange kick off the Syracuse athletic calendar for 2018-19 on Thursday, August 17 as they host the La Salle Explorers for the first home event of the season. It will be the first meeting between Syracuse and La Salle since 2003, when the Orange took a 2-0 victory over the Explorers in Philadelphia.

Syracuse's first road contest of the season comes in Storrs, Connecticut, where the Orange will take on the Huskies on August 20 for a rematch of last season's outing; the teams battled to a 0-0 double overtime decision in 2017 at SU Soccer Stadium.

It's back home for the Orange on August 23 when 'Cuse hosts St. John's for a 6 p.m. match between the former Big East rivals.

Following the St. John's match, Syracuse hits the road for a Northeast tour, playing four road contests in 11 days. The Orange play at Harvard and at Northeastern on August 30 and September 2, respecitively, before traveling to Happy Valley to take on nationally-ranked Penn State on September 6.

'Cuse closes out its stint away from Syracuse just down the road in Hamilton, New York, where the team will renew its rivalry with in-state foe Colgate on September 9. The matchup between the Orange and the Raiders is one of the longest-tenured rivalries in program history with Syracuse leading the all-time series 15-4-2.

The first match back at SU Soccer Stadium for the Orange comes against first-time opponent Kent State. The Golden Flashes are coming off a successful 13-6-2 season in 2017 and look to be good competition for the Orange prior to the beginning of ACC play.

Syracuse starts conference action within the friendly confines of SU Soccer Stadium, hosting third-ranked Duke on Sunday, September 16 for an afternoon contest. The Orange are seeking redemption after falling to the Blue Devils 2-0 in 2017.

'Cuse takes to the road again for three conference games at Boston College (September 20), at Louisville (September 23) and down in the sunny state of Florida to face Miami (September 29).

The Orange then follow-up the road stand with three consecutive ACC home games against North Carolina State (October 4), North Carolina (October 7) and Notre Dame (October 13). All three of the opponents were NCAA Tournament teams in 2017.

In the heart of the conference schedule, Syracuse heads to Charlottesville to face the Cavaliers on October 18 before taking a jaunt down to Wake Forest for a 1 p.m. match against the Demon Deacons on October 21.

Returning home for the final match of the 2018 regular season, the Orange will take on the Clemson Tigers on Thursday, October 25. Last season's match against the No. 19 Tigers was tightly contested battle resulting in a 0-0 decision.

Syracuse will play an exhibition match at Rutgers on August 12 to begin the season.

The full schedule can be viewed here.

The Orange return 76 percent of their goal-scoring from 2017, led by rising-junior Sydney Brackett who tallied five goals and an assist last season. Six of Syracuse's eleven starters return for the 2018 campaign including rising-sophomores Shannon Aviza and Mackenzie Vlachos who each started all 18 games for the Orange during their freshman seasons.

For complete coverage of Syracuse women's soccer, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Soccer), Twitter (@CuseWSOC) and Instagram (@CuseWSOC).

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Set to Face Nine Tournament Teams in 2018

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