MILWAUKEE – Nine games at Engelmann Stadium – including all three Cup contests the team competes for – as well as a trip to take on nationally-ranked Virginia highlight the 2025 schedule this upcoming fall for the Milwaukee men's soccer team.
 
-LINK TO 2025 MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE-

Head coach Kris Kelderman announced the full schedule today, which includes that trip to Virginia where he enjoyed a successful career as a player, helping the Cavaliers win the NCAA National Championship back in 1989.
 
The new campaign will kickoff with an exhibition August 12, with the Panthers making the short drive south to take on UIC. The preseason slate then wraps up with a matchup against Loyola Chicago, scheduled to take place at a neutral site in the Wisconsin Dells Aug. 16.
 
The 2025 opener is set for August 21, hosting Northern Illinois in what will also be the first Cup game for the team, as the Panthers and Huskies vie for the "LeWang Cup" to get the season underway.
 
A pair of road games follows, first up at Lindenwood Aug. 26. The Lions went 11-6-3 overall last season, advancing to the semifinals in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
Two days later, it's at Bradley to battle the Braves before heading home for a stretch of three consecutive at Engelmann Stadium.
 
That opens with Eastern Illinois Sept. 5, followed by visits from Chicago State Sept. 9 and the Horizon League opener set for Sept. 13 against Cleveland State.
 
A quick drive to play St. Thomas awaits Sept. 16 and then, it's off to IU Indianapolis Sept. 20, returning home once again for a big date on the calendar – the "Milwaukee Cup" match at home against Marquette Sept. 23.
 
The Panthers then hit the road for a pair, closing out the month against defending Horizon League regular-season champion Oakland Sept. 27. The Golden Grizzlies went 9-7-2 overall a year ago, claiming the crown with a 6-1-2 conference record.
 
October opens with that matchup at Virginia Oct. 1. The Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in going 11-7-3, finishing the campaign ranked No. 17 in the final United Soccer Coaches National Poll. Virginia has a very storied program, claiming National Championships on seven occasions as well as a stretch of 24 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1996 to 2019) at one point.
 
Kelderman was a four-year letterwinner at UVA from 1987 to 1990, helping the team to the 1989 NCAA title. He is still second in school history with a four-assist game (against Charleston in 1989) and still sits 10^th in school history with 22 career assists. His 88 career games played was most in program history when he graduated (now tied for eighth) and he led the team with 30 points and 10 goals as a junior. He was named All-ACC and went on to be selected in the inaugural Major League Soccer Draft by the D.C. United.
 
Then it's back home to host Purdue Fort Wayne Oct. 4, before a quick trip over to Madison to play Wisconsin (7-5-3 in 2024) Oct. 7.
 
The next Cup game is at home, hosting Green Bay for the "Chancellor's Cup" Oct. 11.
 
The road slate winds up with visits to Wright State Oct. 18, followed by a stop at Robert Morris Oct. 25. The Colonials are coming off a season in which they went 9-7-3 overall en route to winning the Horizon League Tournament Championship and making an NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Milwaukee closes out the regular season at home, welcoming Northern Kentucky Oct. 31 and then the final game of the season is against Detroit Mercy Nov. 4.
 
The Horizon League Tournament gets underway the following week.