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SMU Women's Soccer Releases 2008 Schedule
Opponents include NCAA semifinalists USC, Notre Dame
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April 24, 2008



DALLAS (SMU) - SMU has released its schedule for the upcoming 2008 season, a year in which the Mustangs will face off against their traditional Conference USA rivals, as well as a collection of some of the top teams in the nation.

"This is going to be a very competitive schedule for us, and provide a lot of entertaining games for our fans," SMU head coach Brent Erwin said. "In addition to the rivalries we're building against Conference USA teams, we also have a very challenging non-conference schedule that will allow us to measure ourselves against some of the best teams in the country."

The Mustangs will open the regular season with three of their first four games against teams from the Big 12 Conference (at home Aug. 23 vs. Oklahoma State) and Southeastern Conference (home games Aug. 31 against Ole Miss and Sept. 7 against Kansas).

After the season-opening four-game homestand, the Mustangs will take to the road, including games at two schools that reached the NCAA semifinals: Sept. 12 at Notre Dame and Sept 21 at 2007 national champion USC.

The Ponies open the Conference USA portion of their schedule with a pair of home games, Sept. 28 against Colorado College and Sept. 28 against UTEP, before heading out for four consecutive C-USA road games, but then finish the regular season with three of their last five games at Westcott Field.

"This is a very exciting schedule," Erwin said. "We have a lot of talented players who are going to play for us next year, and playing teams like we have on our schedule will help us assess their development as players. When you play for a university like SMU, with the tradition of soccer excellence that we have here, you expect to play marquee games against marquee programs, and that's what we're doing next season."

For times and ticket information, log on to SMUMustangs.com, or call 214-SMU-GAME.


08/16/08 at Baylor # Waco, Texas 7:00 p.m.
08/23/08 vs. Oklahoma State Westcott Field 7:00 p.m.
08/31/08 vs. Mississippi Westcott Field 7:00 p.m.
09/05/08 vs. Prairie View A&M Westcott Field 7:00 p.m.
09/07/08 vs. Kansas Westcott Field 1:00 p.m.
09/12/08 at Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. 7:00 p.m.
09/14/08 at Ball State Muncie, Ind. 1:00 p.m.
09/19/08 at Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, Calif. 9:00 p.m.
09/21/08 at USC Los Angeles, Calif. 3:00 p.m.
09/26/08 vs. Colorado College * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m.
09/28/08 vs. UTEP * Westcott Field 1:00 p.m.
10/03/08 vs. Rice * Houston, Texas 7:00 p.m.
10/05/08 vs. Houston * Houston, Texas 1:00 p.m.
10/10/08 at Marshall * Huntington, W.V. 6:00 p.m.
10/12/08 at East Carolina * Greenville, N.C. 12:00 p.m.
10/17/08 vs. Memphis * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m.
10/19/08 vs. UAB * Westcott Field 1:00 p.m.
10/24/08 at UCF * Orlando, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
10/26/08 vs. Southern Miss * Westcott Field 1:00 p.m.
10/31/08 at Tulsa Tulsa, Okla. 7:00 p.m.

very tough road slate in there

Not playing TCU is just asinine. This is where the AD(s) needs to step in. Although we win EVERY time, it is still a good rivalry and when we play AT TCU there have been over 2,000 people there the last 2 times we played at TCU. Plus, they have a first-class facility - which we don't have. The Dallas-Fort Worth area needs this game for womens/girls soccer programs on all levels.

Bergermeister wrote:Not playing TCU is just asinine. This is where the AD(s) needs to step in. Although we win EVERY time, it is still a good rivalry and when we play AT TCU there have been over 2,000 people there the last 2 times we played at TCU. Plus, they have a first-class facility - which we don't have. The Dallas-Fort Worth area needs this game for womens/girls soccer programs on all levels.

Not playing the Frogs does not bother me nor does not playing NT. This schedule looks fantastic as long as we have the players to meet the challenge. Strength of schedule means a lot in NCAA soccer especially if you get some results. Building a national program by playing BCS teams on a competitive basis to me means more than playing games against teams such as TCU and NT. Who knows perhaps we did try to schedule them but could not work it out. May have to get some season tickets this year.

Guess I'll just have to get fired up for the much-anticipated Colorado College match-up. Can't wait for that one.

Bergermeister wrote:Guess I'll just have to get fired up for the much-anticipated Colorado College match-up. Can't wait for that one.

Don't sell that game short. Colorado College used to be a top-10 team every year, and still is pretty good - and they're in C-USA, so it's an important game.

SMUFan wrote: used to be a top-10

me, too

Very tough schedule but if you want to raise the program you've got to play the better teams (sorry Frogs). They've got a hard road to hoe in CUSA with Memphis and UCF. #1 USC and Cal St. Ful is a tough road swing not to mention OK State and Notre Dame.
We'll see what the future holds. Should have a couple of the new recruits have an immediate impact in the midfield and possibly up top.

No guts, no glory. Best case, they knock off a perennial power. Worst case, they're primed for a run at the conference. Regardless, you've got to respect them, as this team apparently has a vision of where they want to be. June Jones' team isn't the only one I'll be following closely in the fall. Might have to visit South Bend in September.