OKLAHOMA CITY (June 10, 2021) – Renewals of rivalries with four familiar nonconference opponents and a full eight-game Lone Star Conference slate highlight the Oklahoma Christian 2021 men's soccer schedule, announced Thursday by new coach Mitchell Sowerby.

Among eight nonconference games for OC will be dates with Newman (Kan.), Harding (Ark.), Rogers State and Southern Nazarene. OC hasn't played Newman or Harding since 2018 or Rogers State or SNU since 2019.

The Eagles will play three scrimmages before the season starts – at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College on Aug. 17 and at home against Mid-America Christian (where Sowerby coached the past two seasons) and Side FC on Aug. 21 and 28, respectively.

OC will play four LSC opponents in nonconference games, including in the season opener on Sept. 4, when the Eagles will host Texas-Tyler. Four days later, OC will host Newman in what will be 28th meeting between the rivals, who once both were members of the Heartland Conference. OC's first intercollegiate game in 1986 was at Newman, which now plays in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

A trip across the Oklahoma City metro area to Bethany will ensue on Sept. 11 for the game at Southern Nazarene of the Great American Conference. OC has played the Crimson Storm 57 previous times, more than any other opponent.

OC will host MIAA member Rogers State (also a former Heartland rival) on Sept. 16 and sister school Harding (of the GAC) on Sept. 18. The Eagles are 3-10-4 all-time against RSU, which is Sowerby's alma mater, and 2-2-1 vs. Harding.

The Eagles' final three nonconference games all will be against LSC foes – at Lubbock Christian (Texas) on Sept. 22, at West Texas A&M on Sept. 29 and at home against Midwestern State (Texas) on Oct. 2. OC will visit Midwestern State a week later, on Oct. 9, in the Eagles' LSC opener. OC beat Midwestern State during the spring 2021 season for the first time in 18 all-time meetings dating back to 1988.

The rest of OC's games will be LSC contests. Lubbock Christian will visit on Oct. 13 before the Eagles travel to Texas-Tyler on Oct. 16. OC will host Texas A&M International on Oct. 20 before visiting St. Mary's (Texas) on Oct. 23.

Dallas Baptist (Texas) will play at OC on Oct. 27. The Eagles will be at Texas-Permian Basin on Oct. 30 before closing the regular season at home against defending LSC champion West Texas A&M on Nov. 3.

The LSC tournament will begin Nov. 9 and run through Nov. 14.

Two LSC schools have dropped men's soccer since the Eagles last played a fall schedule in 2019 – St. Edward's (Texas) did so in April 2020 and Eastern New Mexico cut its program in March.