May 13, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The 2008 UC Santa Barbara women's soccer schedule will include a road game at NCAA Tournament semifinalist UCLA, and a home game against Sweet 16 participant Tennessee, plus four other games against 2007 postseason participants, head coach Paul Stumpf announced Tuesday.

UCSB will open the season at Nevada on Aug. 22 and then play its home opener on Aug. 29 against the University of San Diego, an NCAA Tournament team in 2007. On Aug. 31, the Gauchos play at Pepperdine, and then on Sept. 5, they travel to Los Angeles to take-on UCLA. Following the match against the Bruins, UCSB will return home for three in a row, beginning with another NCAA Tournament participant, Sacramento State on Sept. 7. After hosting Washington State on Sept. 12, the Gauchos welcome Tennessee to Harder Stadium on Sept. 14.

Following the contest against the Lady Vols, Santa Barbara will hit the road for six sraight. Included in the six-game run will be a Sept. 21 match-up at Hawai'i, another NCAA team in 2007, and trips to Arizona State (Sept. 26), and Arizona (Sept. 28).

The Gauchos open Big West play at UC Riverside on Oct. 3, and then travel to Cal State Fullerton, the defending league champion, on Oct. 5. They will play their first league home game on Oct. 10, when they host Cal State Northridge.

"I think we've put together a tremendously challenging schedule," Stumpf assessed. "Not only do we play high quality opponents, but at one point we play six straight on the road. Overall, I believe it should be exciting, and it should prepare us for tough conference play."

The Gauchos will debut on Aug. 16 when they host Westmont College in their only exhibition match of the season.