UAlbany Women's Soccer Announces 2010 Schedule; UNLV/Las Vegas Invitational Starts Season

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head women's soccer coach Mary-Frances Monroe announced on Tuesday, May 25 the school's women's soccer schedule for the 2010 season. The Great Danes will play an 18-match schedule, which includes 10 home dates and an August tournament at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

UAlbany's 10-game non-conference slate begins with UNLV's Las Vegas Invitational. The Great Danes kick things off against the host Rebels on Friday, Aug. 27 and conclude the tournament against Portland State on Sunday, Aug. 29. The Vikings won the Big Sky Conference regular-season title last season before falling to eventual champion Northern Arizona in a shootout in the semifinal round of the league tournament.

The Great Danes will return to the Capital Region to open a four-game homestand, their longest of the season, at Varsity Field. UAlbany hosts Iona in its home opener for the second straight year on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. The squad continues against two Atlantic 10 Conference opponents it took to overtime last season. UAlbany will look to avenge a loss to Temple when the Owls visit on Friday, Sept. 4, before trying to continue its recent success against Massachusetts on Sunday, Sept. 6. Chelsea DeVerna's first career goal in double overtime propelled her team to a 1-0 victory over the Minutewomen at Rudd Field last year. Syracuse will be the first Big East Conference program to come to campus when the string of home matches concludes on Friday, Sept. 10.

The Great Danes will look to earn their third straight victory over Colgate, which won the Patriot League regular-season and tournament championships last season, when they visit the Raiders on Wednesday, Sept. 15. UAlbany plays its next two matches at home against Manhattan on Friday, Sept. 17 and Central Connecticut State, the 2009 runner-up team in the Northeast Conference, on Sunday, Sept. 19.

After wrapping up non-league play at Bryant on Wednesday, Sept. 22, UAlbany opens America East Conference action by hosting Stony Brook on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. The Great Danes will look to avenge a loss to the Seawolves in the first round of last season's conference tournament. UAlbany also welcomes New Hampshire, UMBC and Vermont to Varsity Field. The first conference road match will take place on Sunday, Oct. 3 against Hartford at 2 p.m. The Great Danes visit Binghamton, Maine and Boston University, the three-time defending conference tournament champion.

The 2009 UAlbany women's soccer team was recognized by Somis Sports as the ninth-most improved Division I program in the nation after posting its highest single-season win total in 21 years with an overall record of 8-10-1. Monroe, who enters her fifth season at the helm of the program, and her assistants were honored as the league's co-coaching staff of the year. Monroe's program returns nine starters and a league-best four players that garnered all-conference laurels in forward Chelsea DeVerna, who was also the America East rookie of the year, midfielders Maggie DeVerna and Rebecca Lee (Bethlehem Central) as well as defender Casey Marks.

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2010 University at Albany Women's Soccer Schedule

August - 27 (Fri.), at UNLV#, 10:00; 29 (Sun.), vs. Portland State#, 1:30.

September - 1 (Wed.), Iona, 3:00; 3 (Fri.), Temple, 4:00; 6 (Mon.), Massachusetts, 4:00; 10 (Fri.), Syracuse, 4:00; 15 (Wed.), at Colgate, 7:00; 17 (Fri.), Manhattan, 4:00; 19 (Sun.), Central Connecticut State, 1:00; 22 (Wed.), at Bryant, 4:00; 30 (Thu.), Stony Brook*, 3:00.

October - 3 (Sun.), at Hartford*, 2:00; 7 (Thu.), New Hampshire*, 3:00; 10 (Sun.), at Binghamton*, 2:00; 14 (Thu.), at Maine*, TBA; 17 (Sun.), UMBC*, 1:00; 21 (Thu.), at Boston U.*, 7:00; 24 (Sun.), Vermont*, 2:00.

#Las Vegas Invitational
*America East Conference Opponent
All Times Eastern


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information