BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Coming off the program's first ever Big South Tournament Championship, the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team will kick off the 2025 season at the Fairfield by Marriott Invitational, hosted by James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. on August 21-24.

The tournament will consist of four teams with Fordham joining JMU and Drexel. All games will be played at Sentara Park.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will open the festivities on Thursday, August 21 against the Dragons of Drexel University at 4 p.m. Drexel is coming off a 9-6-2 2024 campaign, including a 5-2-1 mark in CAA play. The Dragons picked up a win over #14 Hofstra, 5-4, on October 5.

After a two-day hiatus, Gardner-Webb will return to the pitch for a matchup with the host Dukes. James Madison finished last year with an 8-5-6 overall mark and 3-3-3 record within the Sun Belt Conference.

JMU fared well against ranked opponents in 2024, picking up draws against #21 UCLA, #6 West Virginia and eventual national runner-up and #5 Marshall. The Dukes also picked up a win over #14 Georgetown, 1-0.

Gardner-Webb will look to rewrite the record books just as it did one season ago. The 2024 slate saw the Runnin' Bulldogs win a team-record 13 games while achieving their first unbeaten conference record (5-0-2), en route to the Big South Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

GWU took down ranked High Point on the road on two occasions while also picking up a momentous win over Wake Forest, 3-, inside Greene Harbison Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs would go on to defeat Oregon State by the final of 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Denver in the second round.

To follow along with all the action from this week's games, please visit www.gwusports.com.