By: Calvin Jensen – USU Eastern Athletics
The USU Eastern men and women’s soccer teams recently announced their 2021 regular season schedules. In an unusually short turnaround following a delayed 2020 season, the Eagles look to build on an incredible Spring season in which the women’s team climbed to the No. 17 spot in the NJCAA national rankings with a heartbreaking overtime loss to Snow College in the region 18 tournament semi-finals. Head coach Jared Woodhouse has created a preseason schedule against some of the best programs in the nation to help prepare his teams for what is always a tough SWAC season.
Woodhouse will get a good look at where his teams matchup as they begin the season on August 11 with a scrimmage against NCAA D1, Southern Utah University, in Cedar City, Utah.
A road trip through Wyoming will follow as they take on Casper College, who’s men’s team finished in the top 10 nationally and the women’s team received votes in the national rankings. Traveling south to Laramie Community College the Eagles will once again face some stiff competition as the Lady Talons also finished in the top ten nationally and with their men’s team receiving national votes.
A little closer to home will be a scrimmage against NCAA D2 Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah and returning home on August 27 for a final pre-season matchup against Central Wyoming College.
The Eagles will welcome Truckee Meadows Community College on September 2 as they begin Scenic West Athletic Conference competition at home. The teams will trade home field advantage throughout the season in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Among their Scenic West opponents will be men’s national champion, Salt Lake Community College as well as SLCC’s women’s team who were national runners-up. Other teams include Snow College, College of Southern Nevada, Colorado Northwestern, and new to the SWAC is Community Christian College out of Redlands, California.
The Region 18 tournament will take place October 28 – October 30.
To see all the dates and times for the USU Eastern men and women’s soccer teams, head on over to the athletics page at www.usueasternathletics.com