Cougars' schedule imposing

College of Charleston soccer coach Ralph Lundy says the Cougars' schedule is sometimes three years in the making, so he's never quite sure how tough it's going to be until it's finalized.

So just how tough is C of C's 2008 schedule?

"It's absolutely one of the toughest we've ever had," said Lundy, who is entering his 34th season as a head coach and his 20th at Charleston. "It's tough, really tough."

One of the highlights comes early when the Cougars welcome Brown, Ohio State and Furman in the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Nike Classic from Sept. 12-14 at Patriots Point. Ohio State was the 2007 NCAA runner-up, while Brown and Furman, the Southern Conference champion, were both NCAA Tournament participants.

The Cougars will also play Washington, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, as well as South Carolina.

South Carolina visits Patriots Point on Sept. 19 in the first meeting between the two schools since 2005.

Charleston has won four of the last five meetings with USC, with one tie. "It has been a great rivalry," Lundy said. "South Carolina's success over the years speaks for itself."

Then there's the Southern Conference schedule.

"Even if we hadn't scheduled all these other games, the conference schedule is tough enough," Lundy said. "Everybody's going to be good. This is a great schedule. Charleston soccer fans are in for a treat."

College of Charleston men's soccer schedule:

Aug. 29-31 (Adidas Classic at Davidson, N.C.) 29 - Marshall, 5 p.m., 31 - Charlotte, 3 p.m.

Sept. 5-7 (Furman Invitational at Greenville) 5- Washington, 5 p.m.; 7 - Bowling Green State, 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 12-14 (Aaron Olitsky Memorial Nike Soccer Classic at Patriots Point) 12 - Brown vs. Furman, 5 p.m.; Charleston vs. Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.; 14 - Furman vs. Ohio State, noon; Charleston vs. Brown, 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 19: South Carolina, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25-27 (Nike Classic at Patriots Point) 25 - Alabama A&M vs. Stetson, 5 p.m.; Charleston vs. Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.; 27 - Alabama A&M vs. Jacksonville, 1 p.m.; Charleston vs. Stetson, 3:30 p.m.

October: 1 - at Appalachian State, 1 p.m.; 4 - Davidson, 4 p.m.; 11 - at Elon, 7 p.m.; 14 - Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.; 18 - UNC Greensboro, 7 p.m.; 22 - at Winthrop, 6 p.m.; 25 - at Furman, 6 p.m.

November: 1 - at Coastal Carolina, 6 p.m.; 4 - Wofford, 7 p.m.; 8-16 - Southern Conference Tournament (TBA)