UMBC

BALTIMORE—UMBC head women’s soccer coach Alyssa Radu today announced the Retrievers’ 2008 schedule, which features four teams that advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

“We have a very tough schedule,” Radu said. “Our goal is to make the America East Championships, and we look at each game as a step toward that goal.”

UMBC opens the season at home against 2007 Patriot League regular-season champion Bucknell on Friday, Aug. 22, at 4 p.m. The Retrievers then hit the road for three tough games at regionally ranked Villanova (Aug. 24) and the Georgetown Tournament (Aug. 29-31), where they will take on the host Hoyas, who earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament, and American, the Patriot League regular-season runner-up.

“Our first four games will be a real test right out of the gate, especially with three on the road,” Radu said. “The competition against the Big East opponents (Villanova, Georgetown) will especially be a challenge for us.”

The Retrievers’ non-conference schedule also features Northeast Conference Tournament runner-up Sacred Heart (Sept. 5) under the lights of UMBC Stadium, as well as road games at Ivy League champion Pennsylvania (Sept. 24) and Patriot League champion Navy (Oct. 19).

UMBC will also host Atlantic-10 foe Richmond (Sept. 12) and ACC opponent N.C. State (Sept. 14), as well as Drexel (Sept. 17) in non-conference action, while traveling to cross-town rival Towson (Sept. 7) and Elon (Sept. 19).

UMBC opens America East play on Sept. 28 against Maine at UMBC Soccer Stadium. The Retrievers also host defending champion Boston University on Oct. 23, as well as Binghamton (Oct. 2) and Stony Brook (Oct. 12). The Retrievers’ conference road schedule includes stops at Hartford (Oct. 5), regular-season co-champion New Hampshire (Oct. 9), Vermont (Oct. 16) and Albany (Oct. 26).

“I think within the conference we will be a pleasant surprise,” Radu said. “This is a different team than what the conference is accustomed to.”

The America East Championships will keep the same format as last season, with the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds hosting the quarterfinals on Thursday, Oct. 30, and the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds hosting the semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 2. The highest remaining seed will then host the title game on either Saturday, Nov. 8 or Sunday, Nov. 9.

The Retrievers look to return to the six-team conference tournament for the first time since 2005.