FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO — The University of Montevallo men’s soccer team 2013 schedule has been released.

The defending Peach Belt Conference tournament champions will face three teams that finished the 2012 season ranked nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II poll and four teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. In addition, six teams on the Falcons’ upcoming schedule were ranked in NCAA Division II region rankings at the end of the season.

The Falcons finished the 2012 season ranked No. 7 in the final NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings and earned their seventh trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament in school history.

Montevallo will play three exhibition matches, including two matches against NCAA Division I competition, prior to its regular-season opener.

Some of the season matchups include:

• Hosting Division I opponent Jacksonville University in an exhibition match Sunday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. Jacksonville University is coached by former Montevallo men’s soccer coach Ryan Pratt.

• Montevallo will host non-conference opponent Talladega College in its opening game of the regular season Thursday, Sept. 5 at Varsity Field. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

• Montevallo will open Peach Belt Conference play Saturday, Sept. 21 with a home match against UNC Pembroke at Varsity Field. The Braves, who won one match in the NCAA Division II Tournament last season, finished the season ranked No. 4 in the final NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings and received votes in the final NSCAA NCAA Division II national poll. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

• The Falcons will travel to Florence, S.C. to face Francis Marion in a conference match Saturday, Sept. 28. Montevallo will return home to host Clayton State in a conference match Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Varsity Field.

• Montevallo will travel to Greenwood, S.C. to take on Lander University in a conference match Saturday, Oct. 5. The Bearcats, who claimed the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, finished the season ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings and No. 18 in the final NSCAA Division II national poll.

• After returning home to host North Georgia in a conference match Wednesday, Oct. 9, Montevallo will travel to St. Augustine, Fla. to take on Flagler College in a conference match Saturday, Oct. 12. The Saints, who won one match in the NCAA Division II Tournament a year ago, finished the 2012 season ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings and No. 14 in the final NSCAA Division II national poll.

• The Falcons will travel to Americus, Ga. to face Georgia Southwestern in a conference match Wednesday, Oct. 16. Montevallo will return home to host USC Aiken in a conference match Saturday, Oct. 19.

• The Falcons will take on Palm Beach Atlantic in a non-conference match Sunday, Oct. 27 at a neutral site in Tallahasee, Fla.

• Montevallo will travel to Wingate, N.C. for a rematch of its opening game in the NCAA Division II Tournament last season against Wingate University on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The Bulldogs, who finished the season ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings and No. 9 in the final NSCAA Division II national poll, defeated the Falcons 3-1 in their NCAA Division II Tournament opener. Wingate University won two matches in the NCAA Division II Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Lynn University.

• The Falcons will close out their regular season Saturday, Nov. 2 with a conference match on the road at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga.

• The 2013 Peach Belt Conference tournament is scheduled to begin Nov. 6 with opening-round matches on campus. The semifinals and championship match take place Nov. 8-10 at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga.