Raiders to Face Four Power Five Conference Teams in Non-League Play
Colgate women’s soccer head coach Kathy Brawn has unveiled a challenging and competitive schedule for the 2017 season. The Raiders will host seven games at Beyer-Small ’76 Field and face a number of formidable opponents in non-league action to gear up for Patriot League play.
“We have put together a fantastic schedule that will challenge our players in the best possible way,” said Brawn. “Our non-conference games will provide us opportunities to grow as a team, both on and off the field. The Patriot League is stronger than ever, and we are all looking forward to improving upon last year’s results.”
The Raiders open their 2017 competitive slate at Beyer-Small ’76 field with a match against the SEC’s LSU on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. Colgate captured its first-ever win over an SEC program last season when the Raiders defeated LSU 2-1 in Baton Rouge, La.
The Raiders hit the road for their next two games with trips to UNH and the ACC’s Boston College Aug. 25 and 27, respectively. The two teams combined for 18 wins a season ago.
Colgate returns home to wrap up the month against UMass-Lowell on Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. The Raiders then close out the pre-Patriot League portion of their schedule against three tough foes in the SEC’s Mississippi State (Sept. 3), the ACC’s Syracuse (Sept. 7) and defending America East Champion and NCAA Tournament competitor Albany (Sept. 10).
Colgate will then turn its attention to Patriot League action, beginning with home contests against Loyola (Sept. 16) and Army (Sept. 23). The Raiders will also host Lafayette (Oct. 7), defending Patriot League Champion Bucknell (Oct. 14) and Navy (Oct. 21) in home Patriot League play.
The Raiders travel to Lehigh (Sept. 27), American (Oct. 1), Holy Cross (Oct. 18) and Boston University (Oct. 28) in road league contests. Colgate will also have an away non-league tune-up against local foe Cornell Oct. 9.
The six-team Patriot League Tournament begins Tuesday, Oct. 31, with the quarterfinal round. The Semifinals will be played Nov. 3, with the Championship match set for Nov. 5. The winner of the Patriot League Tournament earns the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Colgate is coming off a 2016 season that saw the Raiders finish 8-8-3 overall and 5-4-0 in league action to earn the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Colgate returns eight starters from last year’s campaign including Patriot League Midfielder of the Year Eliza Doll and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Abby Sotomayor.