ANDERSON, S.C. - After advancing to its fourth straight South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship and earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament at the conclusion of the 2013 season, Anderson University men's soccer head coach John Murphy announced his 2014 spring schedule, headlined by four matchups with Division I opponents.
The Trojans begin their spring slate with a trip to Clemson on Feb. 26, as Murphy returns to a school where he coached in 2010 and 2011. The Tigers, who closed the year with an 11-7-3 overall record, advanced the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament where they were eliminated by Southern Conference member, Elon, on penalty kicks.
Anderson remains in the Palmetto State on March 1 when it travels to SoCon power Furman for a 1 p.m. start. The Paladins, known for former players such as professional superstars Clint Dempsey and Walker Zimmerman, finished their 2013 campaign with an 11-5-2 overall record after falling in the SoCon semifinals to Wofford, 2-1.
Continuing its grueling road trips, AU heads to Mercer on March 22 to a face a squad that recorded five wins on the season but posted an 11-7-2 record in 2012 in which the Bears tallied a 6-1 record in Macon.
After completing a small Division I road trip, the Trojans return to the Upstate for the Anderson Spring Tournament at Trojan Stadium on April 5, as AU welcomes Spartanburg Methodist and NCCAA National Champion, Southern Wesleyan. SWU, which most recently placed two players on the NCCAA All-American list, finished the fall season with a 16-6-2 record and claimed seven straight wins to end the year, propelling it to its first national title in the program's history.
The Trojans close out their spring schedule with a road contest against UNC Greensboro on April 12. Last season, the Spartans earned eight victories, including a win over then-national runner-up, Charlotte, 1-0.
Anderson ended the 2013 season with a 12-7-3 overall mark, but fell to SAC foe and national runner-up Carson-Newman, 3-2, in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Redshirt sophomores Lars Zimmerman and Andre Carle each earned spots on the all-conference teams, as Zimmerman was named to the first-team, while Carle made second-team.
2014 Spring Schedule
Feb. 26 @Clemson 6 p.m.
March 1 @ Furman 1 p.m.
March 22 @Mercer 1 p.m.
April 5 Anderson Spring Tournament 1 p.m.
April 12 @UNCG 1 p.m.
