April 26, 2007

HUNTINGTON - Eight home matches and a visit to second-year Conference USA affiliate member Colorado College highlight the 2007 Marshall Thundering Herd women's soccer schedule, which was announced Thursday by head coach Chris Kane.

In addition to Colorado College, two other NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship participants also fill the Herd's regular season schedule. Among the teams visiting Sam Hood Field next season include defending C-USA and Southeastern Conference Tournament Champions, UAB and Kentucky, respectively.

"We're really excited about our fall schedule," Kane said. "We will host eight matches at Sam Hood Field this season, including visits by UAB and Kentucky.

"Our non-conference schedule should prepare us for the rigors of Conference USA play," Kane said. "Playing teams like South Carolina, Delaware and George Washington will really help with our speed of play and get the newcomers adjusted quickly to the college game."

The Herd, which finished the 2006 campaign with a 5-11-1 overall record, opens the 2007 season with two preseason friendly matches. Marshall will welcome the University of Charleston to Sam Hood Field on Sunday, Aug. 19. The Herd will close out its preseason slate with a trip to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Marshall's regular season campaign will commence with three consecutive road matches, beginning Friday, Aug. 31, at Delaware State. The following week, the Herd will venture to the nation's capital to face George Washington on Sept. 5, before returning to Delaware to face the Delaware Blue Hens on Friday, Sept. 7.

After a three-match road stretch, the Herd begins a three-match homestand when it hosts St. Peter's University Sept. 9. Marshall will then host the Thundering Herd NIKE Invitational Sept. 14 and Sept. 16. The Herd will open up against High Point before closing out the tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats.

The non-conference half of Marshall's schedule will conclude with three consecutive road matches, featuring dates with Georgia Southern (Sept. 21), South Carolina (Sept. 23) and Radford (Sept. 28).

Marshall will continue its road swing into C-USA play when the Herd visits UCF (Oct. 5) and Southern Miss (Oct. 7).

The remainder of the season is comprised of five home matches coupled with two away contests. The Herd's final stretch of the schedule begins with a three-game homestand against East Carolina (Oct. 14), Rice (Oct. 19) and Houston (Oct. 21). The final two weekends of the regular season feature road matches at UTEP and Colorado College on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, respectively.

Marshall will then finish the season at home when it hosts Memphis on Nov. 2 and UAB for Senior Day on Nov. 4.

"The schedule is also set up nicely for our players," Kane said. "Liz Orton and Jess Jennings will get to play in front of their family and friends with our trip to Colorado College in October.

"Ali Lizotte, Meghan Wetzel and Marisa Leconte will do the same when we play South Carolina in September. It should be an exciting year for the Herd in 2007!"

2007 MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD WOMEN'S SOCCER


Date	        Opponent	                Time
Sun., Aug. 19 University of Charleston (Exhibition)	7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 25	at Duquesne (Exhibition)	4 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 31	at Delaware State	        6 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 5	at George Washington	        4 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 7	at Delaware	                7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 9	St. Peter's University	        12 p.m.
Thundering Herd NIKE Invitational
Fri., Sept. 14	High Point	                7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 16	Kentucky	                2 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 21	at Georgia Southern	        4 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 23	at South Carolina	        2 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 28	at Radford	                7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 5	at UCF*	                        7 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 7	at Southern Miss*	        1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 14	East Carolina*	        1 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 19	Rice* (Parents Weekend)	        7 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 21	Houston* (Parents Weekend)	1 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 26	at UTEP*	                7 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 28	at Colorado College*	        1 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 2	Memphis*	                7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 4	UAB* (Senior Day)	        1 p.m.
All home matches in Bold