Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Soccer Course Set For 2003
1/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Jan. 14, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University women's soccer team has a rigorous road ahead of itself as the 2003 schedule was released this week.
The schedule features two teams that garnered regional and national attention last season. On October 19, the Chippewas will play Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines finished last season as the No.13-ranked team in the country and were the top team in the Great Lakes Region. They made it to the NCAA quarterfinals, losing to the eventual runner-up, Santa Clara. Also earning regional acclaim was Dayton (September 5), the sixth-ranked team in the region in 2002.
"Every year, I try to create a schedule that will challenge our team," head coach Mark Salisbury said. "I believe that the non-conference schedule should challenge and push our team, and make us work for the win.
"I'm excited that a team like Dayton is coming up to Mount Pleasant. And, playing a team like Michigan late in the season will give us the chance to see how we have progressed throughout the season. Teams like Dayton and Michigan give us an opportunity to measure ourselves."
The season begins with a trip to Flagstaff, Arizona, to participate in Northern Arizona's tournament on August 30-31. On the docket for the Chippewas will be UC-Riverside and Idaho. The Chippewas will host the home opener the following weekend when Dayton invades Mount Pleasant.
Highlighting the Mid-American Conference home schedule is Miami University (September 28). The RedHawks dominated the MAC last season, losing only one conference game, a 3-2 setback to the Chippewas in Oxford, Ohio. Miami earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships last season.
CMU's portion of the MAC season begins on the road on September 12. CMU will play at Bowling Green, and finish the weekend playing at Toledo on September 14. The Chippewas will host their first MAC game of the season when Buffalo comes to town on September 19.
