SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer will play No. 5 North Carolina Sunday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN3. The match is part of SCU's season-opening road trip to play both UNC and Wake Forest. 

The Tar Heels drew over 4,000 fans in their home-opening win over Cal last season.  The Demon Deacons had 3,700-plus in attendance in its 2014 season opener vs. UCLA.  The trip marks the official season-openers for the Broncos, beginning with Wake Forest on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. (ET).

The Broncos prepped with an 0-0 exhibition tie at No. 8 Stanford this past Saturday.

Wake Forest will play two exhibitions before facing SCU. The Demon Deacons return 10 starters from its 2014 team that finished 10-7-2.  Wake Forest made four straight College Cup Finals appearances from 2006-2009, which included winning the National Championship in 2007.

North Carolina went 15-5-2 overall last season (8-2-1 at home). The Tar Heels were one win away from the 2014 College Cup Finals, losing to UCLA in penalty kicks in the quarters. UNC averaged nearly 16 shots per game and 2.36 goals each time out.

The Broncos went 4-1-1 to start the season in 2014 but would finish 6-9-4 and 2-4-1 in the WCC.

Santa Clara has posted winning seasons in three of the last four seasons. The Broncos last won the WCC Championship in 2010, making their most recent NCAA Tournament appearance that same year. SCU has a storied soccer tradition, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament 19 times.

SCU was picked to finish 5th in the WCC preseason coaches poll (voted upon by the league's eight head coaches). Senior goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh (Santa Rosa Calif. / Sonoma Academy) and junior forward Ryan Masch (San Jose, Calif. / Bellarmine Prep.) were both tabbed as preseason All-WCC honorees.  

Related Links:
2015 SCU Men's Soccer Schedule
2015 NSCAA Preseason Top 25
WCC Men's Soccer
Tour SCU's Steven's Soccer Training Center