GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green Bay men's soccer head coach Kris Kelderman has announced his first schedule as the leader of the Phoenix. The 2011 slate features two tournaments, including the Green Bay Soccer Classic as well as seven contests at Aldo Santaga Stadium.

"We want our schedule to be as competitive as possible and we want to put ourselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament," Kelderman said. "First and foremost we just want to play to our best potential and do really well in the conference."

Green Bay will kick off its season with four consecutive road games beginning Sept. 1 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville followed by a stop at Bradley University on Sept. 3.

The first of two tournaments for the Phoenix will be the UNLV Tournament held Sept. 9-11 in Las Vegas, Nev. Green Bay will open with Cal State Fullerton from the Big West Conference on Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Johann Field. Kelderman and the Phoenix will close its west coast trip playing the host Rebels Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. Last season the Phoenix beat UNLV 2-1 in the Green Bay Soccer Classic.

"Starting off with the stretch of games on the road is definitely a challenge but we're looking forward to it," said Kelderman.

Three of Green Bay's seven home contests will be played throughout a two week span in the month of September. Friday, Sept. 16 the Phoenix will host Niagara in its home opener at Aldo Santaga Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will be part of the Green Bay Soccer Classic and will be the first meeting between the two squads since 2004. On Sept. 18 the Phoenix will wrap up the Soccer Classic with a noon tilt against Dayton.

Green Bay will have a week to prepare before it faces Loyola in its Horizon League opener Sept. 24 at Aldo Santaga Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will also be part of the annual alumni weekend festivities.

Season tickets and Fall Sports Passes are now on sale for volleyball and men's and women's soccer. Season tickets for each sport are available for $25 each, or a Fall Sports Pass can be purchased for admission to all three sports for just $50 for an adult and $25 for a youth pass. For more information and an order form, click here.

Green Bay will hit the road for its second four-game stretch of the season beginning Sept. 28 against in-state rival Milwaukee for the annual Chancellor's Cup game. The Phoenix claimed the cup for the third consecutive season in an exciting 2-1 overtime win at Engelmann Field last season.

"I may not be in the thick of things with the guys right now but I know of the rivalry and how huge the game against Milwaukee is," said Kelderman. "It's a game that may be a little bit more important, whether it should be or not, compared to the other conference games."

UIC will host the Phoenix in a Horizon League matchup Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at Flames Field. Green Bay will look to win its third consecutive game against DePaul as it travels to Wish Field Oct. 5 for a 3 p.m. matinee.

Green Bay will face back-to-back participants from the 2010 NCAA Tournament as it travels to Tulsa Oct. 8, wrapping up its road trip. Saturday, Oct. 15 will be a rematch of the 2009 and 2010 Horizon League Championship games as Butler will visit Green Bay for a 7 p.m. battle at Aldo Santaga Stadium.

"Facing opponents like Tulsa is good for our team's preparation with the goal of making it to the NCAA Tournament," Kelderman said. "Tulsa has always been a top ten team over the past few years and Butler being the defending conference champions and playing them on our field will be exciting for our team."

The Phoenix will look for its third consecutive win against in-state rival Wisconsin as it hosts the Badgers Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

Green Bay will wrap up the season with four Horizon League contests, starting at Cleveland State Oct. 22 before hosting Detroit Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Green Bay's final road trip will be at Wright State on Oct. 29 before wrapping up regular season play at home against Valpo on Nov. 5.

Seniors Stuart Grable (Neenah, Wis.), Tony Patterson (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and junior Ryan Wehking (St. Louis, Wis.) will be looked to for leadership under new head coach Kris Kelderman.

"It's going to be a young team and they're going to have to step up and be the leaders of the group," said Kelderman. "Whenever there's transition, there's uncertainty but it's also a nice challenge."

The Phoenix has finished second in Horizon League play the past two seasons with a 6-2-0 record both seasons.