Storm men’s soccer announces fall slate

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- At the start of his 11th season leading the Simpson College men's soccer squad, head coach Rick Isaacson has announced his team's upcoming 2021 fall schedule.

After a shortened fall-to-spring season ended with the Storm going 3-2-2 against American Rivers Conference opponents, Simpson is looking to restart the momentum from the 2019 team that tied the program mark for wins in a season. The Storm went 16-4-2 overall and 5-2-1 in league play to capture Isaacson's seventh campaign with double digit victories.

"We are looking forward to resuming a traditional college soccer schedule this fall," said Isaacson. "While we were thankful to play a modified league schedule this past spring, I think everyone is eager to play a full slate again."

The 2021 schedule features three teams that finished in the top four of the final 2019 United Soccer Coaches North Region Rankings: Central (No. 1), Luther (No. 2) and Loras (No. 4). Knox ended eighth to bring the top-10 total to four.

In addition to the strong competition at the regional level, the Storm are taking on six opponents that have played at least once in the NCAA Tournament over the last six seasons. Including the previously four programs that were mentioned in the regional rankings, Carleton and Wisconsin-Platteville have seen success at the national level.

Simpson begins the season with a home contest against Augustana (Ill.) on Sept. 1. The week ends with a road match at Hamline, before four straight home bouts against Carleton (Sept. 8), Saint Mary's (Sept. 11), Cornell (Sept. 13) and Illinois College (Sept. 15).

Nonconference action closes with two straight road matches for the Storm, with both being out-of-state trips. Wisconsin-Platteville plays host on Sept. 18, before Knox (Sept. 25) welcome the team to town.

"We have assembled a group of nonconference matches that should adequately prepare us for the rigors of A-R-C competition, while also helping us pursue a bid to the NCAA Tournament," Isaacson said.

A-R-C competition begins Oct. 2 at Loras for the Storm. The two squads are coming off a heated match that took place inside Buxton Stadium on April 25. Simpson tallied a netter with three minutes left to knot the game at 3-3 to prevent the Duhawks from winning the conference championship.

Central (Oct. 6) and Wartburg (Oct. 9) visit for back-to-back home contests to split up another trip to Dubuque, this time taking on the Spartans on Oct. 12. Luther (Oct. 16) and Nebraska Wesleyan (Oct. 26) round out the final home matches, while Buena Vista (Oct. 20) and Coe (Oct. 23) split up the two games with road trips.

"The A-R-C is one of the toughest NCAA Division III conferences in the country," Isaacson said. "We have become a legitimate two-bid league and it's our desire to join the fold. This schedule gives us a chance to establish ourselves amongst the best."

Home matches will be video streamed on SimpsonAthletics.com.