HAMILTON – Colgate soccer enters its home-opening weekend with high expectations.
 
That's not the only reason the men's and women's soccer programs will be the talk of the town, however. Many fans, alumni, and even more importantly the student-athletes have anticipated this upcoming weekend since Colgate announced the building of its new stadium.
 
A little over a year later all the hard work and preparation will be put to rest as the Raiders take the pitch for the first time on their brand new John W. Beyer-Barry J. Small '76 Field.
 
Through the generosity of many, Beyer-Small '76 Field will be ready to host the men's home opener on Friday at 8 p.m. vs. Saint Mary's (Calif.) and the women's home opener on Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. Colorado College.
 
"It is so encouraging to see these new facilities come to fruition," head women's coach Kathy Brawn said. "Both symbolically and realistically, they reflect the standard of excellence that is Colgate, and embody a philosophy of striving to be the best and reaching our potential in everything we do.
 
"I have seen our student-athletes benefit from such positive changes throughout my 24 years at Colgate. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that the women's soccer program begins this new chapter."

Head men's coach Erik Ronning added that the Raiders will be competing on one of the very best facilities in the country.
 
"Beyer-Small '76 Field and the New Athletics Facility mean so much for Colgate Men's Soccer and Colgate Athletics," Ronning said. "This new facility enables us to prepare and compete at the highest level of college soccer.

"These facility upgrades are incredibly exciting for all of us here at Colgate, and they illustrate the University's commitment to continued excellence in athletics."
 
New Name For State-Of-The-Art Field
Beyer was Colgate's men's soccer head coach from 1966-79, leading the team to an 81-66-15 overall record with six All-Region players and one All-American (Small). He also coached the women's team for two years in the early 1980s and posted a record of 22-10-1, for a combined Colgate soccer coaching mark of 103-76-16.
  
Small earned All-America Second Team honors during his senior year of 1975. The four-year letterwinner ended his Colgate tenure fourth on the school chart in career goals with 22 and third in points with 48. The 1975 team captain was twice named All-New York Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Small served nine years on Colgate's Board of Trustees, while also being instrumental in the establishment of the John Beyer Endowed Coaching Chair for men's soccer, named in his mentor's honor.
 
Naming Captains
Both programs recently announced their captains for the 2014 season.
 
On Friday night Ronning will look to senior Tanner Schilling and junior Tyler Forbes to be the leaders of his young squad.
 
Team captain Schilling, one of only two seniors on the team, started all 20 of the Raiders games last season. He recorded the game-winning goal against Bucknell for his lone season goal. He also posted an assist in a 3-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton. The Coralville, Iowa, native finished the season with three points and was fifth on the team with 1,627 minutes played.
 
Forbes was named to team's assistant captain. Arriving at Colgate from nearby Manlius, he saw action in 18 of the Raiders' 20 games last year, making 12 starts. The mathematical economics major finished the season with two goals in games against Loyola and Holy Cross. He ended with four season points and was named to the Patriot League All-Academic Team, Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and Raider Academic Honor Roll.
 
"Both of our captains are terrific young men, who are great players and lead by example guys," Ronning said. "They really represent Colgate in the brightest lights both on the field, in the classroom and in the community."
 
The women will also look to two upperclassmen when they take the pitch Saturday, as it was announced that both Caroline Brawner and Emily Manoogian return as the team's captains.
 
Brawner has been a key contributor for the Raiders since she stepped on the field as a rookie in 2011. Last season she started and played in every game but one, due to injury. She led the team with four goals, four assists, and 12 points. The Edmonds, Washington, native had a three-point performance against Cornell, where she tallied a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory. She notched five multi-point games on the season. The international relations major was named to the All-Mid Atlantic Region First Team, Patriot League All-Academic Team, and Patriot League First Team, while also being named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and Raider Academic Honor Roll.
 
Like Brawner, Manoogian repeats as a leader for Colgate as well. She played and started in 15 of the Raiders' 19 games last season and was tied for the team lead with four season goals, three of which were game-winners (team-leading). The Peabody, Massachusetts, native also posted two assists on the season against DePaul and Loyola, while finishing the year with four multi-point games. Her season-high three-point game came against Loyola.
 
"We have a senior class that has seen a little bit of everything," Brawn said. "They've won a championship, and they've been in big games. So when you add Emily Manoogian and Caroline Brawner into the mix as returning captains, you get the best combination of people who are fantastic players, great leaders, and good liaisons between the coaches, players and the community."
 
Friday night's men's game vs. Saint Mary's is the opener of the Central New York Classic, while the women's matchup against Colorado College is a return game from the 2012 season when the Raiders played in Colorado Springs.
 
This celebratory two-day event features free T-shirts, giveaways and postgame fireworks.