GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College men's soccer team will open its home schedule this weekend as the Pioneers host the Stanno Tournament on campus.
Action gets underway Friday as Carson-Newman battles Nova Southeastern at 5 p.m. on the upper field followed by the Pioneers against 10th-ranked Barry at 7 p.m. on Pioneer Field. The tournament concludes Sunday as Tusculum plays Nova Southeastern at 1 p.m. on Pioneer Field, while Carson-Newman takes on Barry on the upper field at 3 p.m. The upper field is located adjacent to the football practice fields and parking can be accessed via the Shiloh Rd. entrance to the Indoor Practice Facility.
On Saturday, the Greeneville Soccer Association and the Pioneer men's soccer team will hold an open soccer clinic for ages 6 to 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Pioneer Field. Registration for the clinic is free and opens at 9:30 a.m. at the Indoor Practice Facility. The clinic will be taught by the Tusculum men's soccer players and coaching staff.
The Pioneers opened the season with two road losses, falling 2-0 at Millersville on Friday and 2-1 at Shepherd on Sunday. Tusculum first-year head coach Allen Vital has put his deep freshman class to immediate work, starting nine freshmen against Millersville and eight against Shepherd.
"This is a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against some of the top teams in the country and our region. It will be a tremedous opportunity for the soccer fans of our community as well to see some of the best players in the country display their talent right here at Tusculum College," said Vital, who is in his first season at his alma mater after 14 successful years at Carson-Newman. "I encourage everyone who loves soccer to come out and see these games, especially if you are a young player."
Barry and Nova Southeastern travel north to Tennessee after hosting West Florida and North Georgia in season-opening matches last weekend. Barry defeated West Florida 2-1 and North Georgia 4-1, while Nova Southeastern played to scoreless draw with North Georgia and lost 2-1 to West Florida on its home field.
Tusculum and Barry have met just once previously, a 3-2 Pioneer road win on Oct. 16, 2005. Last season, the Buccaneers went 11-4-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament. The Pioneers have never faced Nova Southeastern, and the Sharks went 8-6-2 last season and 4-4 in the SSC.
Carson-Newman dropped its season opener to Milligan 4-2 last Thursday. The Eagles finished 12-5-1 last season and tied for the South Atlantic Conference regular-season title with Wingate at 8-1, giving Carson-Newman at least a share of seven of the last eight SAC crowns.
Admission to the tournament, and to all Tusculum men's soccer home matches, is free of charge.
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