FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With an influx of talent and head coach Matt Watts' system fully implemented heading into his second season, Nova Southeastern hopes to be a program on the rise when the 2017 men's soccer schedule kicks off on Thursday, August 31 against Mississippi College.
 
The Shark faithful will have the opportunity to watch their club at the NSU Soccer Complex eight times throughout 2017, including the home opener versus St. Thomas (Fla.), set for September 7. Watts and company will step outside of league play to face a pair of programs from the Gulf South Conference and one from the Peach Belt Conference early on before the-always riveting Sunshine State Conference portion of the schedule ramps up. Both Embry-Riddle and Palm Beach Atlantic officially join the league this season, lengthening the SSC calendar by two matches. In addition to the Sailfish, Nova Southeastern's 10 conference games feature 2016 Elite Eight representative Tampa, one of three schools on the Sharks' schedule to reach the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
 
"There is no disputing the strength of our schedule," said Watts. "We compete in the best conference in the country from top to bottom. Anyone can beat anyone. I do not foresee that changing this year either. I love playing against the best teams in the country week in, week out. It's a challenge for me as a coach, and the lads should see it the same way. If you're towards the top in the SSC, then you have a good chance of competing with anyone in the country."
 
Following their debut against the Choctaws on the final day of August, the Sharks will wrap-up their stay in Mississippi with a neutral-site match against Watts' former club in Delta State on September 2. During his two seasons at the helm, Watts guided the Statesmen to their first-ever GSC Tournament and tournament final appearance, en route to GSC Coach of the Year honors in 2012. 
 
"DSU is a program I hold close to my heart," said Watts. "They gave me my first head coaching job at just 23 years old. The people are wonderful and my old assistant, Andy Robertson, is now the head coach. I respect him massively and he does a great job. As for playing them, it's just another game that we must show up to and play well or DSU will capitalize. I do not put any extra pressure on the game because it is a former team of mine. I want us to win every game we play in no matter who it is."
 
Capping a season-high, three-match home stand, Nova Southeastern will welcome Embry-Riddle to the SSC in both teams' league opener on September 13. After a trip to Tampa on September 16, the Sharks will then conclude non-conference action versus both Johnson & Wales (Sept. 18) and Flagler (Sept. 23). 
 
A home tilt with Florida Tech on September 26 will begin a run of eight straight contests against SSC foes for the Sharks. As the calendar turns to October, Nova Southeastern will face crosstown rival Barry at home (Oct. 4), eyeing its second consecutive victory over the Buccaneers after earning a 3-2 win in 2016.
 
A tough road stretch awaits the Sharks throughout the final two weeks of the regular season. Outside of Senior Night against Eckerd on October 21, NSU will head to PBA (Oct. 11) and Saint Leo (Oct. 14) prior to the finale at 2016 SSC Champion Lynn on October 25. The 2017 SSC Championship will run from October 31 - November 5, with the NCAA Tournament set to get underway on November 9.
 
"I thought we competed in every game that we played last year," Watts added. "The boys worked incredibly hard, but these things take time and winning is a habit. I expect for us to continue to compete this year, and hopefully some of those close results that we lost by a single goal will go our way. We have worked really hard in the spring season and it was very positive for us. We have also added some new players that're talented enough to help us win games. Unfortunately, the game is played on the pitch and not on paper, so we have to go out and compete every night."
 
For the full 2017 Nova Southeastern men's soccer schedule, click here. To stay up-to-date with the Sharks, follow along on Twitter @NSUMSoccer.