BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team will host 10 home matches at Thompson Field in 2012, including the season-opening Virginia Tech Tournament as the Hokies announced their 2012 schedule Friday.
After playing road exhibition matches on Aug. 14 at Liberty and Aug. 18 at William & Mary, the Hokies will open the season by hosting a four-team tournament at Thompson Field on Friday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 26. Tech will welcome James Madison, SIU-Edwardsville and Richmond to Blacksburg. The Hokies open the season on Aug. 24 against SIU-Edwardsville and also play Richmond on Aug. 26 in the final game of the tournament. Tech has never played SIU-Edwardsville in men’s soccer and hasn’t squared off against Richmond since 2007.
The following weekend Tech will travel to Harrisonburg, Va., for the James Madison Tournament and matches against former conference opponents from its days in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Hokies play Temple on Aug. 31 and St. Bonaventure on Sept. 2, marking the first time they will play both the Owls and Bonnies since 1999.
The Hokies open conference play in the always tough Atlantic Coast Conference against defending national champion North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Sept. 8. Last season, Tech defeated the then top-ranked Tar Heels, 1-0 in double overtime, in its ACC opener.
On Sept. 14, the Hokies will host Boston College in their ACC home opener. A mid-week home match against VMI on Sept. 18 will be followed by conferences matches against Maryland in College Park on Sept. 21 and against Wake Forest at Thompson Field on Sept. 28.
Tech will open the month of October with three straight non-conference matches against three opponents from the 2011 season. The Hokies travel to Campbell on Oct. 2 and host NJIT on Oct. 5, before visiting Longwood on Oct. 9.
A conference opponent in NC State awaits Tech on Oct. 12 in Blacksburg, before the Hokies step back out of ACC play for an Oct. 16 match against Howard at Thompson Field. An Oct. 19 date with in-state and conference rival Virginia is next, followed by a match against New River Valley rival Radford in Blacksburg on Oct. 23.
Tech concludes the season with two ACC matches as it hosts Duke in its final home game on Oct. 27, before wrapping up the regular season at Clemson on Nov. 1.
The 2012 ACC Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 5-11, with the semifinals and finals being played in Germantown, Md.
For updates on Virginia Tech men's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MSoccer).