March 28, 2008

WASHINGTON - Three schools which qualified for the 2007 national tournament and an Atlantic Coast Conference squad headline the 2008 American University women's soccer schedule, it was announced by head coach David Bucciero on Thursday.

The Eagles, who are coming off a 10-5-3 record in 2007, will play a road exhibition at Old Dominion (Aug. 16) to lead into the 19-game regular-season slate.

"We are excited to be playing what we feel is a very strong non-conference schedule that will prepare us for the Patriot League," Bucciero said. "Loyola, Georgetown and Navy all played in the NCAA Tournament last year and it is great to be playing an ACC team in Maryland. We will benefit and develop as a team by challenging ourselves with this schedule."

On Aug. 23, the Eagles will kick off the campaign as they host NCAA qualifier Georgetown (14-8) in the season opener at Reeves Athletic Complex. On Aug. 29 and 31, American will take on UMBC (3-13-2) and Ohio University (5-11-3) as Georgetown hosts the D.C. Invitational.

American kicks off September with a pair of road contests at Mount St. Mary's (5-13) on the 2nd and at ACC member University of Maryland (6-9-3) on the 5th, before heading back home to square off against Towson (9-8-1) on Sept. 14. The Eagles will then play three straight away from DC, starting at the University of Richmond (8-12-2) on Sept. 16., then at Columbia University (8-5-4) on Sept. 19 before finishing up at Long Island University (9-9-1) on the 21st. The Eagles will host George Washington (8-9-1) on Sept. 23 and end September at NCAA qualifier Loyola (14-9-1) on Sept. 28.

Patriot League action begins the first week of October as American begins a four-game homestand beginning with Colgate, who finished 10-8-1 a year ago. The Eagles play their final non-conference opponent on Oct. 7 as Princeton (8-8-1) comes to the Capital District. AU then close out the home portion of its schedule on Oct. 10 and 12 against Lehigh (7-7-4) and Lafayette (3-15). The Eagles hit the road for a tough stretch away from Reeves to close out the season, playing at defending PL Champion and NCAA qualifier Navy (15-5-4) on Oct. 17. The Midshipmen defeated American a year ago in the PL semifinals. American will the play at Holy Cross (4-14) on the 24th, and at Army (7-8-3) on Oct. 26 and will end its regular season at Bucknell, who finished at 11-8-1 a year ago.

2008 Schedule Date Opponent Time 8/16 at Old Dominion (exhibition) 1 p.m. 8/23 Georgetown 1 p.m. 8/29 vs. UMBC @ Georgetown 12 p.m. 8/31 vs. Ohio University @ Georgetown12 p.m. 9/2 at Mount St. Mary's 4 p.m. 9/5 at Maryland 7 p.m. 9/14 Towson 12 p.m. 9/16 at Richmond 7 p.m. 9/19 at Columbia 7 p.m. 9/21 at Long Island University 12 p.m. 9/23 George Washington 4 p.m. 9/28 at Loyola 1 p.m. 10/4 Colgate* 1 p.m. 10/7 Princeton 3 p.m. 10/10 Lehigh* 4 p.m. 10/12 Lafayette* 12 p.m. 10/17 at Navy* 7 p.m. 10/24 at Holy Cross* 3 p.m. 10/26 at Army* 1 p.m. 11/1 at Bucknell* 1 p.m.