RICHARDSON, TX (08.30.21) - The UT Dallas men's soccer team will return to fall play this season and will officially open the 2021 campaign Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. non-conference home match against Austin College at the UTD Soccer Field.

The Comets' home opener will be the only home match for the squad in seven non-conference contest as UTD will not return to friendly confines until Thursday, Sep. 23, when the Comets host Sul Ross State to kick off the tough ASC slate.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JASON HIRSCH

Head coach Jason Hirsch will open his ninth season at the helm of the Comets on Wednesday and will return 24 players from his spring squad that posted a 5-1-1 overall record, including a 4-0-1 mark against ASC East opponents. Hirsch's squad advanced to an 11th straight ASC Tournament this past spring and opened the event with an impressive 4-0 home win over Sul Ross State. However, the Comets bowed out of the postseason in the semifinals after a tough loss to Concordia Texas.

Hirsch's squad will need the experience of those seven non-conference games to prepare for what should prove to be one of the most competitive ASC playoff chases in recent memory. The Comets were picked third in the preseason behind CTX and defending champion Ozarks.

Among the 24 returners from this past spring's squad, the Comets will display six players were recognized as All-ASC last year. The defensive tandem of Brandon Bohn and Adrian Vasquez were both tabbed first team All-ASC in the spring and should anchor of the top back lines in the conference. Goalkeeper Trey Nickel was named second team All-ASC last spring, giving the Comets a very formidable defense. Nahome Abraham was also a second team All-ASC pick for the Comets in the spring while Alan Beaney and Jardel Kuate were honorable mention.