The soccer team moves to the Carl Lewis Track and Field Complex for its games this year. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

The upcoming season will be a change of pace for the Cougars, but familiarity with their new venue and conference will help.

Due to the construction of the new football stadium, the Cougars will play their home games at the Carl Lewis Track and Field Complex. Also new to this season, the team entered the American Athletic Conference on July 1.

Head coach Chris Pfau said he is confident that the team will adjust to the narrower field of the Carl Lewis Track and Field Complex.

Despite the change of venue, Pfau said facing strong non-conference teams is the biggest challenge ahead. The schedule presents a significant amount of travel and will place the Cougars against experienced non-conference teams and some opponents the Cougars have never faced.

“Non-conference is very tough,” Pfau said. “San Diego State and Cal State Northridge are nationally ranked — Georgia and Stephen F. Austin are in the top 50. This is a great test for us as we enter our new conference. We will see seven out of the 10 conference teams that are ranked in the top 100.”

Pfau understands that travel can be hard on a club and is wary of the changes in the weekly team schedule.

“Travel is part of it, and most players do it all their lives. I think the big change for us will come in conference and the Thursday to Sunday schedule. We will be on the road longer and we will have to adapt like most teams,” Pfau said.

Playing at Carl Lewis Field should allow the team a more focused playing experience, and it could draw larger crowds, he said.

“We might do better with attendance because most people had no idea we were in the football stadium,” Pfau said. “Being more central, I think when we have games more students will know and hopefully come watch us.”

sports@thedailycougar.com