Ferris State Soccer To Face Highly-Competitive Spring Schedule
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's soccer program and head coach Andy McCaslin have announced several spring dates in which the Bulldogs will compete over the course of the next two months.
The Bulldogs will open their spring campaign and a challenging slate on the road at Central Michigan on Sunday (Feb. 26) for a 7v7 Tournament that will include matchups with the host Chippewas, Northwood and Northern Michigan.
Ferris State will remain on the road for two more dates at NCAA Division I opponents Western Michigan (March 18) and Oakland (April 1) before returning home to Big Rapids for the squad's final three dates.
FSU will hold an alumni game on April 8 and then face both Alma and Siena Heights the following day on April 9.
Finally, FSU wraps up the spring versus Hope and Spring Arbor on April 21 in Big Rapids.
"We want to challenge ourselves with the spring schedule and our staff feels like we've accomplished this goal," said McCaslin. "The spring is a great time to look to improve when we can while facing outside competition and we have some very strong teams we're facing this spring."
Overall, the Bulldogs will play a total of three Division I schools along with teams at the top of their leagues on both the NCAA Division III and NAIA levels. Spring Arbor was the 2015 NAIA National Champion and 2016 NAIA National Runner-up.
McCaslin and the Bulldogs are also looking forward to the Alumni event on April 8. Alumni interested in attending this year's event are encouraged to contact McCaslin via email at: mccasla@ferris.edu
"It's always great to get the alumni back on campus and involved with the current team," he said. "They're the ones who have helped build the program to where it is now and it gives our current group of players a lot of mentorship and pride to live up to."
Per NCAA regulations, no official results will be posted or distributed from the spring competition.
Ferris State advanced to the GLIAC Postseason Tournament for the seventh-straight year in 2016, which represents the best stretch in school history. FSU has reached the league semifinals three times in the last five years and the Bulldogs have also ranked among the nation's top performers academically in the classroom.
A large bulk of the Bulldog roster from last fall will return with the addition of 15 prep signees to help further bolster an ever-improving Bulldog lineup and offset the loss of only two seniors from last fall.
The Bulldogs will begin official preparations for the fall campaign when preseason practice begins in August. The 2017 season will represent Ferris State's 19th season of intercollegiate competition and the Bulldogs are also slated to debut a new home field this coming fall.
Below is the complete spring schedule of dates:
2/26 - @ Central Michigan (7v7 tournament v. CMU, Northwood, Northern Michigan)
3/18 - @ Western Michigan
4/1 - @ Oakland
4/8 - Alumni Game
4/9 - Alma and Siena Heights
4/21 – Hope and Spring Arbor