SLU’s soccer schedule, which will be announced in the next few days, doesn’t have the brand names SLU usually has, like Indiana or Connecticut, but it still has some high quality nonconference opponents, such as Akron, which was seventh in the season-ending RPI last season (and had a very good recruiting class) and Tulsa, which was 21st.

SLU opens its regular season against New Mexico at home on Sept. 1 against New Mexico, a team that just missed making the NCAAs last season, then plays five in a row on the road, then comes back to play eight straight at home, including its first five Atlantic 10 games. (Which should help a young team get off to a quick start.) And then the team’s on the road for the rest of the season, unless it gets an NCAA Tournament game at home. (The conference tournament this season is at Rhode Island.)

“New Mexico is potentially a top 20 team,” coach Dan Donigan said. “Every year it’s kind of a crap shoot (with scheduling). New Mexico will be difficult. Clemson will be a potential top 20. Tulsa is a top 10 team and Akron is obviously a significant player. I think it’s a very, very difficult out of conference schedule.”

Five teams on the nonconference schedule, Loyola, Akron, Dayton, UMKC and Tulsa, made the NCAAs last year.

The weird conference schedule, 5 at home, then 4 on the road, means SLU has to make only two road trips, one to the Ohio schools, then another to the Philly schools. Also, the way the conference rotation works out, SLU doesn’t play UMass, the other top team in the league, in the regular season. SLU hasn’t won a league title, and an automatic berth in the NCAAs, since 2003, so the nonconference schedule is where SLU has had to make its case for an at-large bid.

SLU had six players get preseason honors, including four on the preseason all-rookie team: F Benny Estes, M/B Nick Maglasang, GK Mark Pais and M Alex Sweetin. Add to that transfer Mike Roach from Indiana and there will be plenty of new faces on the Billikens, who have 11 true freshmen.

“It’s preseason, so it’s not as meaninfgul as postseason, but anytime you get four kids named to the all-rookie team, it speaks volumes for the future. But we’ve had guys named preseason all-conference who were never (postseason) all-conference.”

Two players made the preseason all-conference team, midfielder Kyle Hayes and back Tim Ream. “The fact (Rob) Viviano is not on there is a joke to me,” Donigan said.

Donigan said Pais, the first year goalie from Ladue, is good enough to compete with Ross Kaufman, a senior who at times has been a starter the previous three years. “Legitimately we have two potential No. 1 keepers on the roster,” Donigan said. “We’ll go with whoever is going the best. I don’t care if he’s a senior or freshman.”

One other thing: SLU is considering having a Midnight Madness festivities for the start of soccer practice on Aug. 15.

Here’s the schedule. Clip and save:

August
Sat., 22 Missouri State (Exh.) Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Tue., 25 at Memphis (Exh.) Memphis, Tenn. 7 p.m.September
Tue., 1 New Mexico Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Nike Portland Invitational
Fri., 4 vs. Washington Portland, Ore. 4:30 p.m.
Sun., 6 at Portland Portland, Ore. 6:30 p.m.
Sat., 12 vs. Loyola Chicago Bridgeview, Ill. (Toyota Park) 7 p.m.
Akron Tournament
Fri., 18 vs. Florida International Akron, Ohio 1:30 p.m.
Sun., 20 at Akron Akron, Ohio 1:30 p.m.

Sat., 26 Tulsa (Homecoming) Hermann Stadium 7:30 p.m.
Wed., 30 Missouri-Kansas City Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.

October
Sat., 3 Clemson Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Fri., 9 Richmond* Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Sun., 11 George Washington* Hermann Stadium 1 p.m.
Sat., 17 Charlotte* Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Fri. 23 Fordham* Hermann Stadium 7 p.m.
Sun., 25 La Salle* Hermann Stadium 1 p.m.
Fri., 30 at Xavier* Cincinnati, Ohio 6 p.m.

November
Sun., 1 at Dayton* Dayton, Ohio Noon
Fri., 6 at Temple* Philadelphia, Pa. TBA
Sun., 8 at Saint Joseph’s* Philadelphia, Pa. Noon

A-10 Championship / University of Rhode Island
Thu., 12 Quarterfinals Kingston, R.I. TBA
Fri., 13 Semifinals Kingston, R.I. TBA
Sun., 15 Final Kingston, R.I. TBA

NCAA Tournament
Fri. or Sat., 20 or 21 First Round Campus Sites TBA
Wed., 25 Second Round Campus Sites TBA
Sat. or Sun., 28 or 29 Third Round Campus Sites TBA
Fri., Sat. or Sun., Dec. 4, 5, or 6 Quarterfinals Campus Sites TBA
NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup
Fri., Dec. 11 Semifinals Cary, N.C. TBA
Sun., Dec. 13 Final Cary, N.C. TBA

Home Games in Bold * Atlantic 10 Matches