With the regular season within just weeks of arrival, head coach Robin Chan and the Florida Tech men’s soccer program officially announced its 2016 schedule Thursday afternoon. (FIT Image)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – With the regular season within just weeks of arrival, head coach Robin Chan and the Florida Tech men’s soccer program officially announced its 2016 schedule Thursday afternoon.
Following an up-and-down campaign in 2015 in which the Panthers compiled a 7-6-2 record, the Crimson and Gray will look to return to the upper echelon of the Sunshine State Conference just two years removed from a runner-up finish in the league championship.
In order to do so, however, Florida Tech will yet again have to endure one of the nation’s more daunting slates that includes each of last year’s NCAA Tournament South Region representatives in Palm Beach Atlantic, Rollins, Saint Leo and West Alabama.
Robin Chan
“Every year is a fresh start so we try not to compare teams, but rather look forward to the opportunities ahead,” said Chan, who enters his 12th season on the Florida Tech sideline.
“On paper, though, we probably have more depth in the squad which will promote good competition for places. We learned a lot about ourselves last year and I think that experience will give us more determination and good motivation coming into the season. We have high expectations and want to see that desire to work hard for the team right away.”
Following tune-ups against Division I opponent Florida Gulf Coast and Flagler, the Panthers will welcome familiar foe Union (Tenn.) for the regular season opener on September 1. Chan’s club faced four straight matchups away from Rick Stottler Field to kick-off 2015, but will flip the script this time around, adding home meetings with Mississippi College, West Alabama and Eckerd at the start of September.
Looking to exact last season’s 3-2 golden goal victory, Florida Tech will get its first taste of road action on September 21 at Saint Leo.
The rigorous stretch will then continue three days later with a visit from reigning SSC Tournament Champion Rollins before traveling on September 28 to face Palm Beach Atlantic, a club that reeled off 17 wins and a berth to the Elite Eight in 2015.
As the calendar turns to the month of October, a rematch of the 2014 SSC Tournament Final will be in place as the Panthers return to Boca Raton, Florida to clash with Lynn.
Consecutive non-conference matches versus Warner and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ensue, setting up the stretch run of Florida Tech’s portion of league play.
Florida Tech will play host to Tampa on Senior Night on October 22, with the regular season coming to a close on October 26 down south at Barry.
Should the Panthers qualify, the SSC Tournament will run from November 1-6 with host sites and competing teams to be determined based on the final league standings. The NCAA Division II Regional Tournament will get underway on November 10.
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