2008 Schedule and Match Preview

The match schedule for 2008 is a very challenging one. Not only are we starting the season with 6 road games, but we are playing some very good teams. Each week we will be challenged by teams who are regionally and nationally ranked. Part of our team philosophy is to play against the best teams who will play us, and we certainly acieved this with our upcoming fall schedule.

8-23-08 - 10a vs. Alumni at ONU, Preseason
8-26-08 - 5p vs. Walsh University at ONU, Preseason
8-30-08 - 10a vs. Rochester Inst of Tech. at RIT Classic, NY
8-31-08 - 11a vs. Allegheny College at RIT Classic, NY
9-2-08 - 5p vs. Anderson University, Anderson, IN
9-9-08 - 7p vs. Ohio Wesleyan University, Deleware, OH
9-12-08 - 4p vs. Hope College, Holland, MI
9-13-08 - 2p vs. Calvin College, Calvin, MI
9-17-08 - 5p vs. Wittenberg University, Ada, OH
9-24-08 - 7:30p vs. Denison University, Granville, OH
9-27-08 - 2p vs. Case Western Reserve, Ada, OH
10-1-08 - 4p vs. Defiance College, Ada, OH
10-3-08 - 4p vs. Muskingum College, New Concord, OH
10-7-08 - 4p vs. Capital University, Ada, OH
10-11-08 - 2p vs. Mt. Union College, Ada, OH - Parent's Day
10-15-08 - 7p vs. Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, OH
10-18-08 - 2p vs. John Carroll University, Ada, OH - Senior Day
10-21-08 - 7p vs. Heidelberg College, Tiffin, OH
10-25-08 - 2p vs. Otterbein College, Westerville, OH
10-29-08 - 4p vs. Wilmington College, Ada, OH
11-1-08 - 2p vs. Marietta College, Marietta, OH
11-4-08 - OAC Quarterfinals, TBA
11-6-08 - OAC Semifinals, TBA
11-8-08 - OAC FINALS, TBA

September Match-ups

There are certainly some key matches in September for us. The first weekend in Rochester will really let us know what type of team we have and how we will fair in September against some very good teams. We have never played RIT or Allegheny; both teams will be a great early test for us. The next key match-up for us is at Anderson. Next, we're off to Deleware to play Ohio Wesleyan, a great team with a lot of tradition and two NCAA National Championships under their belt. They are always difficult and it will be a great game between us. We then head to Michigan to play Hope and Calvin, two of the toughest teams in the MIAA. Calvin advanced through the first round of the NCAA Championships with a win over Capital; who beat us last fall in the OAC Tournament Championship after we beat them to win the regular season OAC Title, so that will be a key match-up for us. We are FINALLY at home against a team we have a lot of history with, Wittenberg University. We have yet to beat them while I have been the head coach at ONU. We have been VERY close every year, but they seem to always put that one chance away, but I am hoping this is our year. Next its off to face the defending NCAC Champions, Denison University in Granville. A great program with a long tradition of success; another great challenge for us. We finish up the non conference schedule with two difficult home matches, Case Western Reserve and Defiance College.

We begin conference play on the road at Muskingum College. Each conference game for us is crucial and each game will be treated the same. The OAC is a very difficult conference. On any given day, a top team can be knocked off by a hungry, athletic team looking to make their mark in the conference and region. We will have to remain focused throughout October and I believe our challenging schedule in September will prepare the players and staff for another OAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the history of our program! For specific game stats and live home match web updates, be sure to visit our ONU Women's Soccer site, http://www.onusports.com/WSoccer/index.html. Each home match will be live on the web if you are unable to make it to Ada. Regardless of the outcome this year, we have a great group of players and they will make this upcoming season very exciting and special. We hope to see as many of you at our games as possible!