"We continue to play a very challenging non-conference schedule, which I'm excited about," said Jorden in regards to the Lancers' 2012 schedule. "There are some very good teams on our schedule."
The 18-game slate features just four non-conference games, but Jorden couldn't have found a tougher quartet than the four the defending Pacific West Conference Champions will go toe-to-toe with in the fall.
Together, the foursome combined to go 60-21-4 in 2011, winning 73 percent of their games. Three of them made at least the second round of their respective national tournaments and the one that didn't won their final four games of the year. All of them had winning records.
Headlining the list is reigning NCAA Division II National Champion Fort Lewis, which has won three national titles since 2005. The Lancers play the Skyhawks, who went 24-1 last year, Sept. 10 at a neutral site on the campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Gilbert, Ariz.
The season officially opens Thursday, Aug. 30 when CBU travels to UC San Diego. It's a rematch of last year's season opener, which the Tritons won 2-1 in Riverside. Two days later (Sept. 1), the Lancers host NCAA Division II power Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros went 12-6-2 last year and lost in overtime to Seattle Pacific in the NCAA West Region Semifinals.
Once again, the Lancers make their annual 20-mile trek to Claremont to take on NCAA Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Sept. 5. The Stags made it to the second round of NCAA Division III National Championships, losing to rival Redlands.
"This is a demanding non-conference slate that will test our preparation and see how good our team can be prior to entering the PacWest schedule," said Jorden. "The addition of four high quality teams to the conference will make the PacWest an increasingly greater challenge as well."
After taking the PacWest by storm last year, winning the title in their first year in the conference, the Lancers begin their 14-game 2012 conference slate against familiar faces, taking on former GSAC rivals turned PacWest competitors.
It begins Sept. 13 at Fresno Pacific, the first of three straight road games, which also includes Holy Names (Sept. 15) and Azusa Pacific (Sept. 21). The Lancers' PacWest home-opener is against Point Loma (Oct. 2), the first of two games against the Sea Lions.
CBU also plays Grand Canyon twice-at home Oct. 27 and in Phoenix Nov. 3 in the regular-season finale. The Lancers return the favor to Point Loma Oct. 30 in San Diego.
Other home dates include UH-Hilo (Oc.t 6), Chaminade (Oct. 8), BYU-Hawaii (Oct. 11), Academy of Art (Oct. 13) and Dixie State (Oct. 25).
The Lancers hit the road to take on Notre Dame de Namur (Oct. 18) and Dominican (Oct. 20).
CBU returns 17 players from last year's team that finished 17-5-1 and also won the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship in addition to the PacWest title. The Lancers return four of their six all-conference selections.
