Eastern New Mexico head men’s soccer coach Jon Fridal recently finalized the 2019 regular season schedule for his second year at the helm of the Greyhounds.

The first year for coach Fridal proved to be a historic one as the Hounds finished with a record of 8-8-2, the first time the program has finished with a record of .500 or better since 2014, and secured the second highest total number of wins in program history. Gabriel Peres was named D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team at season’s end, becoming the first Greyhound to receive All-Region accolades since the 2013 season.

“I think we put together the toughest possible schedule,” coach Fridal said, “We’ll have five games against teams that finished ranked at the end of this past season. The Lone Star Conference is one of the toughest conferences around for men’s soccer, so between our conference schedule and our non-conference schedule, I think we’ve put together quite a challenge for the guys.”

The quest to continue to elevate the program to new heights will begin with an exhibition match-up against Wayland Baptist University on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. inside Greyhound Stadium before the Hounds hit the road to begin their regular season with two games against in-region competition. Eastern will take on two RMAC foes in Adams State on Aug. 24 in Albuquerque, N.M. and Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo. on Sep. 5 before returning home for their first official game inside Greyhound Stadium on Sept. 8 against Fort Hays State.

Both Colorado Mesa and Fort Hays State advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament a season ago and combined for a record of 30-6-7.

After competing in the first of the non-conference home games for the season against Fort Hays, Eastern will hit the road for back-to-back tournaments in St. George, Utah and Bismark, N.D. The Hounds will take on Dixie State and Westminster College in St. George on Sep. 13th and Sep. 15th at 7:30 p.m. and 11 a.m.

Westminster finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last season with a record 10-3-1 in conference play while Dixie State finished eighth in the league standings with a conference record of 5-7-2.

“Of our first seven games, six will be on the road, which will present it’s own challenges as it’s not easy to compete on the road against top teams,” coach Fridal said, “Starting the season strong is important as it will build momentum heading into conference play. In addition, with our region realignment to a West super region for next year, beating in-region opponents at the start of the season will go along way in securing a bid to the NCAA tournament.”

Eastern New Mexico will get their last bit of prep work in before beginning Lone Star Conference play on Sep. 19th and 21st in Bismark, N.D. where coach Fridal’s squad will take on Seattle Pacific University and Montana State-Billings in neutral site competition. Those two matches will serve as final tests before the Hounds open up LSC play on Sep. 26th in Canyon, Texas against last season’s Heartland Conference West Division Champions and NCAA Division II National Quarterfinalist West Texas A&M.

That match against the arch-rival will be the first of two meetings between the Greyhounds and the Buffs for the season, the second coming as a non-conference match-up on Oct. 17th inside Greyhound Stadium.

The Hounds will follow up the first meeting with the Buffs with a home match against UT-Permian Basin on Sep. 28th at 1 p.m. before getting back out on the road the following week for a match against NCAA Division II newcomer UT-Tyler in Tyler, Texas on Oct. 5th. Eastern New Mexico will follow up their first ever meeting with the Patriots with a three game home stand beginning on Oct. 10 against St. Mary’s and ending on Oct. 17th with the aforementioned home non-conference tilt with West Texas A&M.

Texas A&M-International will pose as the third foe in that stretch of games inside Greyhound Stadium as the Dustdevils will pay visit to the Hound’s home turf on Oct. 12th.

Heading into the late stages of October brings the Hounds down the stretch of the 2019 regular season schedule and will start the push for postseason contention on Oct. 24th and 26th on the road against Dallas Baptist and St. Edward’s. Eastern will return home the following weekend against Oklahoma Christian and Midwestern State on Oct. 31st and Nov. 2nd before taking part in a non-conference road match-up with UT-Permian Basin on Nov. 7th in Odessa, Texas.

The Hounds finish off their 2019 regular season with a home contest against Lubbock Christian on Nov. 9th inside Greyhound Stadium for senior day.

“We haven’t announced our recruiting class for 2019 yet, but we have some very talented student-athletes coming in,” coach Fridal said, “We should be deeper in 2019 with more competition in each position. I think this will allow us to surprise some teams early in the season and rotate throughout, which will build momentum for conference play and hopefully keep us fresh for the postseason. I just can’t wait to get started!”

In all the 2019 regular season will see the Hounds compete in eight non-conference games and 10 Lone Star Conference games, 10 of which will be on the road in away or neutral site games and eight will take place right here in Portales.