Barnes Announces 2018 Soccer Schedule
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head soccer coach Sarah Barnes released Wednesday the team’s schedule for the upcoming 2018 season.
The Hurricanes will play eight matches at Cobb Stadium in Barnes’ first season at the helm, including hosting Florida State for the first time since 2014.
The schedule features six matches against teams that reached the NCAA Championship, including five versus sides that advanced, two of which reached the Round of 16.
“I’m looking forward to the start of the season,” Barnes said. “We’ll play against teams from a variety of conferences that will allow us to organize and fine-tune our style en route to the ACC schedule, which promises a challenge every weekend. It’s a great environment to measure ourselves and will require us to raise our level, week after week.”
Miami begins the campaign with a road match at Florida Atlantic (Aug. 17, 7 p.m.) and then returns to Coral Gables to face FIU (Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m.) in the home opener.
Following the two South Florida matchups, the Hurricanes will travel to Nashville, Tenn., for the Music City Invitational. Miami first meets Vanderbilt (Aug. 24, 8:30 p.m.) and then squares off with Lipscomb (Aug. 26, 1 p.m.) to conclude the event.
Barnes’ club will conclude its non-conference home slate by taking on UT Rio Grande Valley (Aug. 30, 7 p.m.) and UCF (Sept. 2, 6 p.m.), before opening its lone three-match road trip of the season.
After playing at Jacksonville (Sept. 6, 7 p.m.) and Stetson (Sept. 9, 1 p.m.), Miami heads to Clemson (Sept. 14, 5 p.m.) to begin ACC competition.
The Hurricanes then return to Cobb Stadium for their lone three-match homestand, taking on Duke (Sept. 20, 7 p.m.), Virginia Tech (Sept. 23, noon) and Syracuse (Sept. 29, 7 p.m.) in their final matches of September.
Miami starts October with road contests at Pittsburgh (Oct. 4, 7 p.m.) and Louisville (Oct. 7, noon). The team then faces Boston College (Oct. 13, 7 p.m.) in Coral Gables for its only home tilt in a three-match stretch.
The Hurricanes wrap up road play with outings at NC State (Oct. 18, 7 p.m.) and North Carolina (Oct. 21, 1 p.m.) in the Tar Heel State.
In the season finale, Miami will square off with Florida State (Oct. 25, 7 p.m.) for just the second time in four seasons.
“We have a lot of work to do and the team knows the preparation required to be successful at this level has already begun,” Barnes said. “We’re excited for the opportunity.”
The Hurricanes bring back 16 players, including 12 letter winners, from the 2017 season, as well as welcome newcomers, four of whom enrolled in January.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
