Grizzlies release 2012 schedule, host national champs

After a record setting season in 2011 that saw the Butler soccer team finish 21-4-1, take a share of the Jayhawk Conference title and play in the NJCAA National Championships, the Grizlies have released their 2012 schedule.  As no surprise, the schedule comes littered with nationally ranked teams and a difficult conference draw.

The Grizzlies will begin the pre-season by traveling to two exhibitions matches against NCAA DII institutions Ft Hays State University and Newman University.  The team will then open the regular season on Aug. 24-25 in Council Bluffs, IA against nationally ranked Iowa Western and Illinois Central.  The Grizzlies then play their home and conference opener on Aug. 29 when they host Allen County.   Labor Day weekend then has the Grizzlies traveling to Cheyenne, WY to take on nationally ranked Laramie County.  Butler advanced to the 2011 NJCAA's after beating the Golden Eagles 4-3 in PK's at the district tournament.

Butler then returns home for one of the biggest weekends of the season (Sept 7-9) when national tournament hosts Brevard and defending national champions Tyler come to El Dorado.  The Grizzlies will play Brevard on Friday; Brevard will then battle Tyler on Saturday, followed on Sunday by Butler hosting Tyler at the new BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. 

The Grizzlies then start a stretch of five conference games including an away match against first year program, Kansas City Kansas.  The conference season is then put on pause while the Grizzlies travel to Tonkawa, OK to take on fellow national tournament participant NOC Mavericks.   Coach Hunter and the team then return to conference action for three away matches, including a trip to Overland Park, KS to take on nationally ranked Johnson County. 

Another break in the conference season takes place as the Grizzlies play host to Hesston on Oct. 5.  The remainder of the season has Butler playing their final four conference matches with the marquee game coming on Oct. 14 when the nationally ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons come to town.

The Grizzlies will be chasing a sixth conference championship and their second straight bid to the NJCAA National Championships in 2012.  

"We have always prided ourselves in playing a schedule that gives us national exposure and allows us to play the best teams across the country," coach Adam Hunter said "This year's regular season will be paramount in preparing us for the region tournament, as the winner will receive an automatic bid to the national tournament.  Our schedule will have us prepared to make a run at the title."

Click here to view the full schedule.