Most fans expect the women’s soccer team to travel to Ireland alongside the football squad, yet a surprising scheduling twist reveals that only the men’s soccer team has adopted a year-round calendar. While the football team and women’s soccer players will both take the field in Dublin, the men are the sole group shifting their entire season to match the global clock. This distinction often gets lost in the excitement of the international games, but it changes how the program operates right now.
Football Takes the Leap
The entire campus is packing up to head to Dublin for the Aer Lingus Classic, a massive event that marks the true start of the college football season. TCU gave up their home game to play this match in Ireland, creating a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the Tar Heels. Per Tar Heel Blog, the game is set for Saturday, August 29, against TCU in Dublin, Ireland at Noon on ESPN. The matchup serves as the official welcome to the new year for fans who have been waiting all summer.
While the football team flies overseas, the men’s soccer squad has made a different kind of move. They drew against Georgetown in Washington, DC, a strong start against a team ranked fifth in the country. According to Tar Heel Blog, the men are now the only teams adopting a year-round schedule to better align with the world’s calendar. The previous week’s report mistakenly said both men and women were making this switch, but that error has been corrected. The men will play on Monday, August 24, at Memphis in Tennessee at 8 PM on ESPN+.
Soccer Splits the Schedule
The women’s soccer team will join the football players in Dublin for a friendly match, but they aren’t changing their season structure like the men. They will face Shelbourne FC in Dublin, Ireland on Friday, August 28 at 2 PM. This game offers great exposure for the women before they return to the United States to finish their regular schedule. The men, however, continue their road trip before opening their home schedule later in the week against VCU on Friday, August 28 in Chapel Hill at 7:30 PM on ACCNX.
This split approach means the men are adjusting to a different rhythm while the women stick to the traditional path. The men’s draw against Georgetown was a positive way to get the season going, and now they face more road tests. The women’s trip to Ireland is a special event, but their long-term plan remains the standard college calendar. Fans need to know which teams are playing where and when, as the schedules aren’t identical despite the shared travel plans.
Field Hockey Opens at Home
While the soccer teams and football squad are traveling, the field hockey team is ready to begin their regular season right here in North Carolina. Erin Matson’s squad has finished all the fun scrimmages against local clubs and is now jumping into the fray. The team travels to Winston-Salem for the ACC-B1G challenge, staying in-state for the start of the season instead of going to the midwest like last year. This weekend sees them face Michigan on Friday, August 28 in Winston-Salem at 3:30 PM.
A trip to Winston-Salem should be easy for fans who want to catch this team in person before they play in Chapel Hill. The team will have to wait a week before hosting games at home, but the opening games are set. According to Tar Heel Blog, the regular season starts roughly as well as possible.
