ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland men's soccer Head Coach Eric Pogue announced the 2020 spring schedule beginning against Davenport on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at the Grizz Dome. The spring campaign is also highlighted by the Golden Grizzlies competing against arch-rival Detroit Mercy, Michigan and Michigan State.
 
"This is a very important spring season for our program and young men as we are coming off a very successful Horizon League regular season," said Pogue. "However, the fall campaign was also bittersweet in terms of what could have been as we felt we left a lot on field during the league tournament in Chicago back on November 14th."
 
"Moving forward, the 2020 season started on January 7th to prepare for this demanding spring schedule which includes seven games over 30 days that will test us in many different ways against some very tough competition against in-state Big Ten opponents U-M and MSU, Detroit Mercy and three of the best NCAA DII programs in the nation in SVSU, Northwood, and Davenport," added Pogue. "We finish the spring slate against one of top youth programs in all of Canada in Ontario based Woodbridge SC 03 which hopefully will include some future Golden Grizzlies."
 
The Golden Grizzlies and Titans square off on Saturday, March 14 at 9 p.m. followed by Northwood on Saturday, March 21 at 9 p.m. at the Grizz Dome.
 
Oakland then welcomes Michigan and Saginaw Valley State to the Grizz Dome for a pair of matches at 7 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. respectively.
 
The season continues against Michigan State at the 12th Annual Flint Bucks College Cup Challenge on Saturday, April 4 at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. at 12:15 p.m. The game against the Spartans is also a part of the 2nd Annual Family Weekend with a lunch reception being held at the Red Ox Tavern immediately after the game at 3 p.m.
 
Oakland concludes the spring season against Woodbridge SC 03 on Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m. at the Grizz Dome.
 
"During Phase One preparation in January, our guys worked extremely hard in their strength and conditioning three to four days per week in addition to five days per week of small sided games for 40/45-minute blocks, said Pogue."
 
"We then moved into Phase Two in February turning our attention to focusing on making each individual player better at their individual positional craft through big doses of functional technical and tactical training, as well as working in some initial bigger team group tactics prior to spring break", continued Pogue. "When the team returned on March 2nd, Phase Three kicked in with weekly game preparation and advancing our team group tactics week to week."
 
"Replacing seven seniors in Spencer Nolff, Elliott Bentley, Liam McQueenie, AJ Shaw, Adam Giorgio, Corentin Diverres and Evan Sawula will not be easy but our young guys are talented, hungry and excited for their opportunity to shine in the Black and Gold this spring. We are extremely lucky to have a facility like the Grizz Dome to work on perfecting our craft to get ready for one of our toughest fall schedules in the program's 48-year history," Pogue concluded.

For all matches at the Grizz Dome, fans are encouraged to bring their own portable lawn chairs.

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