Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Women's Soccer Schedule Released
7/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Golden Eagles open up at home against Illinois before tackling tough BIG EAST slate
MILWAUKEE ? The 2005 Marquette women's soccer schedule has been released and the first match of the season is a sign of what the rest of the schedule has to offer.
Marquette opens up its season on Friday, August 26 at home against Illinois, a team that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals a season ago.
Also on the slate for Marquette is the defending national champion, Notre Dame. The Irish visit Valley Fields on Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m.
Marquette plays the defending BIG EAST Conference tournament champion, Connecticut, on the Huskies' home field in Storrs on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. EDT. The Huskies were third round participants in the NCAAs, losing to Notre Dame.
"We're preparing ourselves for what BIG EAST play is going to be like with our early season schedule." head coach Markus Roeders said. "By playing two games in one weekend and scheduling some tougher opponents, we will get an idea of what it's like to play in the BIG EAST."
While those three games stand out, the schedule is increasingly difficult thanks to the addition of the remainder of the BIG EAST contests.
"We have a great balance of quality programs on our schedule," Roeders added. "But we've set the schedule up to prepare us for the BIG EAST. We want to give ourselves an opportunity to be successful and hopefully get an at large bit to the NCAA Tournament as a result."
The Golden Eagles will host five BIG EAST games in addition to the contest with Notre Dame. The BIG EAST slate opens on Friday, Sept. 16 at home against USF at 7 p.m.
Marquette also hosts Providence (Sunday, September 25, 1 p.m.), DePaul (Sunday, October 2, 2 p.m.), Syracuse (Friday, October 21, 7 p.m.), and St. John's (Sunday, October 23, 1 p.m.) in league play.
In addition to Connecticut, Marquette will play West Virginia on the road. The Mountaineers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Marquette visits West Virginia on Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m. (EDT).
The Golden Eagles' venture to West Virginia begins a four-match road trip. Marquette follows up with Pittsburgh (Sunday, October 9, 1 p.m. EDT), Cincinnati (Friday, October 14, 7 p.m. EDT), and Louisville (Sunday, October 16, 1 p.m. EDT).
"The league from top to bottom will be very competitive, with the elite teams being very good," Roeders said. "We will have a challenge every time out."
Marquette hosts just two non-conference matches. In addition to Illinois, the Golden Eagles host Drake on Friday, September 2 at 7 p.m.
The Illinois contest is part of the 2005 Milwaukee Cup. Marquette will follow up that match with a contest against Northwestern at noon on Sunday, August 28 at Engelmann Field on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Marquette's road non-conference opponents include Wis.-Green Bay (Sunday, September 4, 7 p.m.), Wis.-Milwaukee (Wednesday, September 7, 4 p.m.), and Loyola (Ill.) on Tuesday, September 20 at 7 p.m.
Marquette will take on Miami (Fla.) and Xavier in Bloomington, Ind., as part of the Hoosier Classic on September 9 and 11, respectively.
Former Conference USA foe Saint Louis will come to Milwaukee for an exhibition contest on Saturday, August 20 at 7 p.m.
"If you look at our non-conference schedule, it is very competitive," Roeders added. "Our opponents have some good credentials, like Illinois' trip to the quarterfinals. Drake is coming along and advanced to their tournament final last season. UWM is also very competitive in their conference every year, and even our exhibition game with Saint Louis provides tough competition."
Marquette will wrap up the season hosting the semifinals and finals round of the 2005 BIG EAST Conference Tournament on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, Nov. 6 at Valley Fields.
"The incentive of having the conference tournament at home should give us a boost," Roeders said. "We're a young team hoping to improve as we go, but with the tournament at Marquette, it gives us an extra push so we can play at home at the most important time of the season."
The earlier rounds of the tournament will take place on October 26-30 on campus sites.
Click here for 2005 women's soccer schedule.
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