PORTSMOUTH – Home games from this Monday through Friday highlight a very busy week in Shawnee State Athletics. Men's soccer will have home games on Monday and Wednesday, while women's soccer plays at home on Tuesday and Thursday. Cross country will also open its season on Friday by hosting the Shawnee State Invitational. All home events will start at 4 p.m. this week. Admission is free to all students with a Shawnee State ID.
Men's Soccer
Men's soccer will dive in head first to the 2012 season with its first game coming against No. 1 and defending national champion Lindsey Wilson on the Shawnee Turf today at 4 p.m. Lindsey Wilson is riding a 25-match winning streak into this week's contest and was picked to repeat as MSC Champions. The Bears were tabbed sixth in the preseason poll.
The men's team will also host Mount Vernon Nazarene this Wednesday at 4 p.m. in non-conference action. This will be the team's Crohn's and Colitis Awareness game. At both this game and the women's game on Tuesday, shirts will be on sale for $10 with all proceeds benefiting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. A busy weekend slate also awaits the team as it will play a pair of weekend games. The Bears will travel to Saint Francis on Saturday, Sept. 1 for a 6:30 p.m. game. They will then play Indiana Tech at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2 in the same location.
Women's Soccer
After a tough season opener, women's soccer will look to bounce back with two more home games. The Bears week will get underway on Tuesday, Aug. 28 against West Virginia Tech. This match will serve as the team's Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Day. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Shirts will also be on sale at this game for $10 with all proceeds going directly to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. On Thursday, the women's team will host Malone College in another non-conference game at 4 p.m.
Cross Country
The nationally-ranked cross country teams at Shawnee State will get their seasons started this Friday at the 14th Annual Shawnee State Invitational. The men's team comes into the season ranked seventh in the country, while the women were ranked 22nd in the NAIA Preseason Poll. Both squads have been picked to three-peat as conference champions in 2012.
The women's race will begin at 4 p.m. and the men will then follow at 4:45 p.m. This will be your one and only chance to see the two-time defending MSC Champions on their home course during the 2012 season. The cross country meet will be held at Earl Thomas Conley Riverside Park located just a couple minutes from campus.
Full Shawnee State Schedule for the upcoming week:
Monday, Aug. 27 (4 p.m.): Men's soccer vs. No. 1 Lindsey Wilson
Tuesday, Aug. 28 (4 p.m.): Women's soccer vs. West Virginia Tech
Wednesday, Aug. 29 (4 p.m.): Men's soccer vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene
Thursday, Aug. 30 (4 p.m.): Women's soccer vs. Malone College
Friday, Aug. 31 (Women -4 p.m., Men – 4:45 p.m.): Cross Country hosts Shawnee State Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 1 (6:30 p.m.): Men's soccer at U. of Saint Francis
Sunday, Sept. 2 (2 p.m.): Men's soccer vs. Indiana Tech (at St. Francis)
