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Men's Soccer Announces 2008 Schedule
CHICAGO DePaul men’s soccer coach Craig Blazer announced the 2008 schedule for the program's fourth season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. The defending BIG EAST Red Division Champions open the regular season against Valparaiso and host nine matches at Wish Field. "Our 2008 schedule is very good," said Blazer. "We play some of the best teams in the region and country and we are excited to see the development of our team. This is our fourth season in the BIG EAST Conference and we believe that the commitment and experience of our players will find a way to continue to move the program forward." The 2008 squad reports for training camp on Aug. 12 and uses three exhibition matches to tune up for the Aug. 31 opener against the Crusaders. The first of three exhibitions has Northern Illinois visiting Wish Field on Aug. 17 before the Blue Demons travel to Saint Louis on Aug. 20 and Western Michigan on Aug. 24. After setting a school record with a 9-1-0 record at home last season, the Blue Demons attempt to duplicate the Wish Field success against Valparaiso. Following the home opener, DePaul travels to Milwaukee as one of three teams visiting Marquette for the Marquette Invitational. The Blue Demons take on Columbia and Pennsylvania of the Ivy League the weekend of Sept. 5. The Blue Demons return to Wish Field on Sept. 14 against Butler after a road game at UW-Green Bay on Sept. 12. BIG EAST action begins on the road as DePaul travels to Seton Hall on Sept. 19 followed by a match at Georgetown on Sept. 21. The four-match stretch against Blue Division opponents continues the weekend of Sept. 26 when West Virginia and Pittsburgh head west to Chicago. The Pittsburgh game on Sept. 28 is Alumni Day at Wish Field. The month of October will decide if the Blue Demons can defend their divisional title as they play all seven Red Division opponents. The month begins at Rutgers on Oct. 4 before a three-game homestand at Wish Field. DePaul hosts USF on Oct. 7, Cincinnati on Oct. 11 and non-conference opponent Loyola-Chicago on Oct. 15. The regular season concludes with two road matches and two home matches with an Oct. 18 tilt at Syracuse starting the run. St. John's returns to Wish Field on Oct. 25 before a road match at Louisville on Oct. 29 and Senior Day against Villanova on Nov. 1. The 2008 BIG EAST Championship starts at campus sites with the first rounds on Nov. 5 and quarterfinals on Nov. 8. The final four teams in the league tournament travel to Tampa, Fla., for the semifinals and championship on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16. A year ago, the Blue Demons landed the No. 1 seed from the BIG EAST Red Division and knocked off Cincinnati in the quarterfinals before falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals in Storrs, Conn. September October November
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