Looking to exit the Southern Conference with a third straight conference tournament championship and a second straight regular season title, the Elon University men’s soccer team announced its 2013 schedule Tuesday.

Following arguably the most successful season at the Division I level in 2012 with a 15-5-2 record and a 4-1 record against ranked opponents, the Phoenix follow it up with an 18-game regular season schedule that features nine teams that finished in the top 100 RPI in 2012—three of which finished in the top 25.

The Phoenix open with exhibition games and tough tests Aug. 17 against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in Greensboro, then again Aug. 24 in Columbia, S.C. at the University of South Carolina.

The regular season opens Aug. 30 in the Duke Classic against Northeastern, a future conference opponent in the Colonial Athletic Association. The following day, the Phoenix take on Rutgers University to close out the tournament in Durham.

Another tournament a week later in Wilmington has the Phoenix taking on future SoCon team Mercer University Sept. 6 before taking on Presbyterian College Sept. 8.

Ironically, the Phoenix will not take on the Univeristy of North Carolina at Wilmington in its own tournament. Instead, the Phoenix will play the Seahawks at home Sept. 14 on Rudd Field before welcoming Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Wake Forest University to Elon Sept. 17. Elon upset the Demon Deacons last season when they were ranked No. 13 in the nation.

The Phoenix continues its four-game homestand Sept. 20 and 25 against the College of William & Mary, then against Radford University, respectively.

A two-game road trip has Elon staying in North Carolina with trips down the road to High Point University and Campbell University Sept. 28 and Oct. 1, respectively, before Elon opens conference play Oct. 5 against Appalachian State University.

Conference play continues Oct. 12 when the Phoenix goes to Wofford College, the team Elon battled in the conference tournament final in 2012, before returning home to take on Georgia Southern University. This is also Georgia Southern’s last season in the Southern Conference, as they are departing for the Sun Belt Conference.

Furman University will host the Phoenix Oct. 19 in Greenville, S.C. before the Phoenix travels back to Durham to take on the Duke University Blue Devils. Elon and Duke played to a scoreless draw in the final game of the 2012 regular season for the Phoenix. The game was meaningless for Elon’s chances as a SoCon regular season title, which they won just minutes after the final whistle blew, thanks to other results in the conference.

Elon goes on the road for the final time of the regular season Oct. 26 against Davidson College before coming home for a game in which the Phoenix will want to win badly.

Elon gets another chance at Coastal Carolina University Oct. 29 on Rudd Field. Through the last two seasons, Elon has played the Chanticleers four times — twice in the NCAA Tournament. Each time, Coastal Carolina has topped the Phoenix, most recently in the first round of the 2012 tournament with a 3-0 victory.

A match against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Nov. 2 closes out the final regular season for the Phoenix in the Southern Conference.

The conference tournament will be held Nov. 9 at select campuses in the Southern Conference based on seeding before the final four teams converge Nov. 15 and 17 in Greenville to determine the conference’s champion.

The Phoenix faces a slate in which it will have to replace the nation's leading scorer from a year ago in Chris Thomas. He scored 23 goals for the Phoenix on the way to his second Southern Conference Player of the Year award.

2013 Elon Men's Soccer Schedule:

Aug. 17 — vs. North Carolina (exh.), 7 p.m. (Bryan Field in Greensboro) Aug. 24 — at South Carolina (exh.), 7 p.m. Aug. 30 — vs. Northeastern, 7 p.m. (Duke Classic in Durham) Sept. 1 — vs. Rutgers, 12 p.m. (Duke Classic in Durham) Sept. 6 — vs. Mercer, 5 p.m. (UNCW Classic in Wilmington) Sept. 8 — vs. Presbyterian, 1 p.m. (UNCW Classic in Wilmington) Sept. 14 — vs. UNCW, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 — vs. Wake Forest, 7 p.m. Sept. 20 —vs. William & Mary, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 — vs. Radford, 7 p.m. Sept. 28 — at High Point, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 — at Campbell, 7 p.m. Oct. 5 — Appalachian State*, 7 p.m. Oct. 12 — at Wofford*, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 — Georgia Southern*, 7 p.m. Oct. 19 — at Furman*, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 — at Duke, 7 p.m. Oct. 26 — at Davidson*, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 — Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m. Nov. 2 — UNCG*, 7 p.m. Nov. 9 — SoCon Quarterfinals Nov. 15-17 — SoCon Championships (Greenville, S.C.)

* denotes Southern Conference game