May 30, 2008

Click here for 2008 Duquesne women's soccer schedule

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne women's soccer head coach Tim Zundel has released the Dukes' 17-game schedule for 2008 today.

The season begins the last weekend of August as DU makes its first-ever trip to Jacksonville University. The Dukes and Dolphins met in 2005 in Huntingdon, W.Va. for the Marshall Tournament.

Duquesne opens its home schedule at Rooney Field Sept. 5 against Niagara followed by a trip to Loretto, Pa. to face Saint Francis, Pa. on Sept. 7.

DU will host a pair of games against Youngstown State on Sept. 11 and Robert Morris on Sept. 14 before closing out the non-conference schedule at Wright State Sept. 21.

The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule opens Sept. 26 at Saint Louis. Duquesne's conference home opener is Sept. 28 against Rhode Island.

October begins with a pair of road matches against La Salle on Oct. 3 and Fordham Oct. 5. The Dukes return home the following weekend to host Richmond on Oct. 10 and George Washington on Oct. 12.

DU completes their road schedule at Xavier Oct. 17 and Dayton Oct. 19.

The regular season concludes with three home matches - Oct. 24 against Saint Joseph's, Oct. 26 versus Temple and Nov. 1 hosting St. Bonaventure.

Six teams on the 2008 schedule had 10 or more wins last season (Dayton 13-4-4, Wright State 13-6-1, Rhode Island 12-6-2, La Salle 11-9-0, Fordham 10-5-5 and Saint Louis 10-6-2). Overall, the 17 teams the Dukes will face combine for 132 wins.

"We are looking forward to the upcoming season and the challenges that await the team," said Zundel. "The Atlantic 10 season will be difficult, especially with Dayton, Rhode Island and Fordham on the schedule. We're looking forward to building on our success from last season."

• Duquesne will play four A-10 teams that made it to the conference tournament last season in Dayton, Fordham, Richmond and Saint Louis
• The only A-10 teams the Dukes will not play are Massachusetts and 2007 conference champion Charlotte
• DU is 23-9-1 all-time against the 2008 non-conference oppoenets
• The Dukes will play five teams from Pennsylvania, four teams from Ohio, three teams from New York and one team from Florida, Missouri, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington, D.C.