TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler men's soccer program has announced their 2023 schedule.
 
The Patriots will embark on their third season of Division II Eligibility after completing their transition period back in the summer of 2021.
 
The 2022 season saw the program finish at 7-6-3 overall on the year and just miss out on their second consecutive Lone Star Conference tournament appearance.
 
Head coach Kenny Jones will return for his 22^nd season for the Patriots and 25^th season overall as a head coach and remains the only coach in UT Tyler men's soccer history.
 
The 2023 schedule sees 17 regular season contests with eight of those coming on their home turf at Citizens First Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex and nine of those on the road.
 
Nine LSC matches await UT Tyler this season in what will be a round robin format to determine the top six seeds that will reach the Lone Star Conference tournament. That tournament will begin on Tuesday, November 7^th with the number three and four seeds hosting a quarterfinal match on their home field. The winners move on to the semifinals on November 10^th, and the LSC championship will take place on November 12.
 
"I'm excited about our fall schedule. It will provide a good challenge for our team," head coach Kenny Jones said. "All of our non-conference games will aid in our preparation for the traditionally tough LSC conference portion of the schedule."
 
That 2023 campaign begins with a road trip on August 30^th, as the Patriots head to San Antonio, Texas to take on reigning LSC Regular Season Champions St. Mary's. That will be a quick road trip as the Patriots return to Citizens First Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex for the first time in 2023 on September 2^nd to face CSU Pueblo and then take on Jarvis Christian the following week on September 9^th.
 
It will be a three game road trip next on the schedule as the Patriots head out to the Natural State for matchups with Ouachita Baptist and Harding on September 14^th and 16^th, and then they will take on Oklahoma Christian on September 20^th in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
 
The non-conference schedule wraps up with a pair of home games against DBU and Texas A&M International on September 23^rd and 27^th, and the DBU contest will also serve as Senior Day for the program.
 
After a Saturday off, the team goes back to work, this time in the LSC portion of the slate as they take on Texas A&M International in Laredo, Texas on October 4^th at 7 p.m. to start their LSC quest. Next will be matchups against St Edward's on October 7^th and Midwestern State on October 11^th. That matchup with the Hilltoppers will be the first home contest of the LSC schedule.
 
On October 14^th, the Patriots begin their longest LSC homestand as they host Lubbock Christian, and then follow that up with Oklahoma Christian on October 18^th. On October 21^st the Patriots head to Canyon, Texas to take on West Texas A&M, before returning home for their final home game of the regular season on October 25^th against St. Mary's.
 
Rounding out the regular season will be trips to DBU on October 28^th and then the 559 mile trek to Eastern New Mexico on November 1^st before the Lone Star Conference tournament kicks off on November 7^th.
 
"We are thrilled about our team this fall," head coach Jones says. "We have a good number of returners mixed with some exciting new additions that will really strengthen and complete our roster. We know we will be tested early, it's the type of challenge we want and need."