The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s soccer schedule, released this week, features nine home matches at Finley Stadium, a full Southern Conference slate and a tournament in North Carolina.
The Mocs will kick off the season on Aug. 23 at home against in-state foe Austin Peay followed by a cross-town matchup with Tennessee Temple one week later. UTC’s first road matchup will be against Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala., before returning home to host UNC Asheville on Sept. 8.
The out-of-conference contests continue with the Gardner-Webb Tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C., in mid-September. Chattanooga will take on South Carolina State in the opener and close out with a matchup with host Gardner-Webb. The Mocs continue on the road at Tennessee Tech before stepping into league play.
Several current SoCon teams will be playing in their final season with the league including Davidson who visits Chattanooga on Sept. 27, and Georgia Southern two days later. UTC will host Furman before heading off to take on Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., and then make a final trip to Boone, N.C., to take on Appalachian State.
The Mocs return home for a three-game home stand that includes league foes Western Carolina and The Citadel and a non-conference matchup against Francis Marion. Chattanooga hits the road for its final three games of the regular season beginning with Elon and UNCG and the finale in Birmingham, Ala., in the Southern Rail Rivalry Series with Samford.
The first round of the league championships will be played at home sites starting Nov. 3. The semifinals will be Nov. 8 followed by the finals on the 10th hosted by Davidson.
The Mocs return 14 letterwinners from last season and will see the return of keeper Taylor Mangrum to the lineup after sitting out last year with a knee injury. Seniors Andria Aurand (Hixson) and Kelly Crew (Brisbane, Australia) will lead the team onto the pitch along with juniors Andi Argueta (Clarksville, Tn.) and Crystal Mackezyk (Columbia, Tn.). A slew of sophomores led by Hannah Wyatt (Soddy Daisy, Tn.) who led the Mocs in assists last season will fill out the lineup along with a crew of newcomers.
Chattanooga opens the season Friday, August 23 at Finley Stadium against Austin Peay. Admission to all UTC home games is free. No outside food or drink will be allowed and concessions will be available.