Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team is hosting the 2006 Jako Classic this Friday and Saturday at Varsity Field.

This year's tournament brings two new participants to the tournament, as High Point University and fellow Atlantic Sun affiliate University of North Florida join half of last's year's tournament field in Winthrop and Gardner-Webb.

The Bulldogs will look to continue their winning ways in the Jako Classic and defend their tournament championship of 2005, having gone 2-0 in last year's classic. The Bulldogs picked up wins over both East Carolina (6-2) and Appalachian State (1-0).

The tournament matches will be the 2006 season openers for all participating teams, including the 'Dogs who went 1-0-1 in exhibition play this season, including a 1-1 tie with Soccer America's preseason No. 1 UNC Tar Heels.

Matches are slated for both Friday and Saturday with the first match starting at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, as North Florida takes on Winthrop. The Bulldogs will then face the Panthers of High Point at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday play begins at 2 p.m., as North Florida will take on High Point, while GWU will play host to Winthrop at 5 p.m.