Sun Belt Conference brings back men’s soccer for Fall 2022 season, featuring 9 teams

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference will bring back men’s soccer beginning in Fall 2022, the league announced on Wednesday.

Nine teams will comprise Sun Belt Conference men’s soccer; three of the new Sun Belt members (as of July 1) James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion will join Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State. In addition, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia will compete as affiliate members for men’s soccer only. The Sun Belt Conference previously sponsored men’s soccer from 1976-1995 and 2014-20.

“These elite programs will lend instant credibility and help establish the Sun Belt as one of the nation’s premier men’s collegiate soccer conferences,” said Commissioner Keith Gill. “They each bring their unique traditions and histories of excellence. We welcome them and look forward to a bright future on the pitch.”

The Sun Belt Conference men’s soccer membership will boast some of the sport’s most accomplished programs. The nine teams have combined for more than 100 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.

Marshall claimed the 2020 NCAA Championship, becoming the first unseeded team to accomplish the feat in nearly 15 years. South Carolina is one of just 24 programs all-time to make 20 or more NCAA Tournament appearances, finishing as national runners-up in 1993.

The Sun Belt Conference was founded in 1976 and began sponsoring football in 2001. The Sun Belt will now sponsor 18 NCAA Division I sports and annually awards nearly $134 million in financial aid to more than 4,600 student-athletes. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Sun Belt membership will be comprised of App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.

2022 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Schedule

Coastal Carolina
Saturday, September 17 – at West Virginia
Saturday, October 1 – vs. Marshall
Saturday, October 8 – at Georgia State
Saturday, October 15 – vs. South Carolina
Wednesday, October 19 – at Kentucky
Sunday, October 23 – vs. Old Dominion
Friday, October 28 – at James Madison
Tuesday, November 1 – vs. Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern
Saturday, September 17 – vs. Old Dominion
Saturday, September 24 – at South Carolina
Saturday, October 1 – vs. Georgia State
Saturday, October 8 – at Kentucky
Saturday, October 15 – vs. James Madison
Sunday, October 23 – at Marshall
Friday, October 28 – vs. West Virginia
Tuesday, November 1 – at Coastal Carolina

Georgia State
Saturday, September 17 – at James Madison
Saturday, September 24 – vs. Kentucky
Saturday, October 1 – at Georgia Southern
Saturday, October 8 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Wednesday, October 19 – vs. Marshall
Sunday, October 23 – at West Virginia
Friday, October 28 – vs. South Carolina
Tuesday, November 1 – at Old Dominion

James Madison
Saturday, September 17 – vs. Georgia State
Saturday, September 24 – at Old Dominion
Saturday, October 1 – vs. Kentucky
Saturday, October 15 – at Georgia Southern
Wednesday, October 19 – vs. West Virginia
Sunday, October 23 – at South Carolina
Friday, October 28 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Tuesday, November 1 – at Marshall

Kentucky
Saturday, Sept 17 – vs. Marshall
Saturday, Sept. 24 – at Georgia State
Saturday, October 1 – at James Madison
Saturday, October 8 – vs. Georgia Southern
Saturday, October 15 – at West Virginia
Wednesday, October 19 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Friday, October 28 – vs. Old Dominion
Tuesday, November 1 – at South Carolina

Marshall
Saturday, September 17 – at Kentucky
Saturday, September 24 – vs. West Virginia
Saturday, October 1 – at Coastal Carolina
Saturday, October 8 – at South Carolina
Saturday, October 15 – vs. Old Dominion
Wednesday, October 19 – at Georgia State
Sunday, October 23 – vs. Georgia Southern
Tuesday, November 1 – vs. James Madison

Old Dominion
Saturday, September 17 – at Georgia Southern
Saturday, September 24 – vs. James Madison
Saturday, October 8 – vs. West Virginia
Saturday, October 15 – at Marshall
Wednesday, October 19 – vs. South Carolina
Sunday, October 23 – at Coastal Carolina
Friday, October 28 – at Kentucky
Tuesday, November 1 – vs. Georgia State

South Carolina
Saturday, September 24 – vs. Georgia Southern
Saturday, October 1 – at West Virginia
Saturday, October 8 – vs. Marshall
Saturday, October 15 – at Coastal Carolina
Wednesday, October 19 – at Old Dominion
Sunday, October 23 – vs. James Madison
Friday, October 28 – at Georgia State
Tuesday, November 1 – vs. Kentucky

West Virginia
Saturday, September 17 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, September 24 – at Marshall
Saturday, October 1 – vs. South Carolina
Saturday, October 8 – at Old Dominion
Saturday, October 15 – vs. Kentucky
Wednesday, October 19 – at James Madison
Sunday, October 23 – vs. Georgia State
Friday, October 28 – at Georgia Southern