|
DePaul Women's Soccer Faces a Daunting Schedule
July 6, 2010
CHICAGO - After experiencing a turnaround season in 2009, the DePaul women's soccer program is looking to reach the next level. Following up its first appearance in the BIG EAST Conference Championship tournament, the Blue Demons will launch into a challenging 2010 schedule featuring seven teams that competed in the 2009 NCAA Championship tournament. Leading the way is traditional rival Notre Dame, which advanced to the NCAA semifinals. The Fighting Irish also won the BIG EAST tournament title. The showdown with Notre Dame is set for 4 p.m. on Sept. 17 in the renovated Wish Field at Cacciatore Stadium. DePaul will be hoping to snap a five-game losing streak against the Irish. After opening the season on the road against the Big Ten's Iowa (Aug. 20) and Northwestern (Aug. 22), the Blue Demons have their home opener Aug. 27 against St. Bonaventure. Two days later, they face the first of those seven NCAA powers with a visit to Illinois State. Along with the Redbirds and Notre Dame, DePaul will tangle with NCAA qualifiers Michigan State, St. John's, Rutgers, Connecticut and Villanova. The Blue Demons will have a pair of four-game home stands to build some mid-season momentum. The first extended stay in Lincoln Park comes Sept. 12-24 when they take on Drake, Notre Dame, Loyola and Louisville. After a BIG EAST match Sept. 26 in Cincinnati, DePaul is back home Oct. 1-10 to face St. John's, Syracuse, Rutgers and Seton Hall. Coach Erin Chastain's ballclub will need to take advantage of playing eight of nine games at home. DePaul finishes the regular season with four consecutive road games against BIG EAST opponents Providence, Connecticut, Georgetown and Villanova that will have a huge bearing on qualifying for the conference tournament. In 2009, DePaul had its best season since 2003, finishing 10-9-2. The Blue Demons upset No. 11 Missouri 1-0 in Columbia for their first victory over a nationally ranked opponent. One day later, they were ranked No. 20 by Soccer America---the first national ranking in program history.
|
