July 30, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina University head soccer coach Debbie Hensley announced today her 2004 schedule, which includes a record-tying 10 home matches and a slate of challenging non-conference opponents such as South Florida and East Carolina, both from Conference USA.

The 2004 Catamount squad looks for another exciting year as the program enters its sixth season of competition and welcomes a freshman class of eight talented players. Joining the 13 upperclassmen this year are newcomers Lauren Atkinson (Marietta, Ga.), Melissa Berry (Matthews, N.C.), Bailey Culp (Richmond, Va.), Leah Daino (Statesville, N.C.), Heather Dittmer (Marietta, Ga.), Megan Harris (Marietta, Ga.), Jamie Hopkins (Raleigh, N.C.) and Rebekah Mumm (Asheville, N.C.). Returning from injury this year is redshirt freshman, goalkeeper/forward Jennifer Deck.

WCU opens its season with an exhibition match-up with Mars Hill on Aug. 18 before heading into regular-season play by hosting Gardner-Webb on the Aug. 27. Western's other non-conference home contests include meetings with mountain rival UNC Asheville on Sept. 3 and East Carolina on Sept. 26. In Southern Conference action for 2004, the Catamounts will welcome the College of Charleston, Elon, Wofford, Furman, The Citadel and Georgia Southern to the pitch.

Western Carolina will go on the road this year to face Coastal Carolina (Aug. 30), Jacksonville State and Georgia State at the GSU/Mariott Invitational Sept. 10-12, South Florida (Sept. 16) and Stetson (Sept. 19). Within the league, the Cats will travel to Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Davidson, UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State. The 2004 SoCon Championship will once again be held in Greensboro, N.C., Nov. 4-7.

"We have a strong non-conference schedule this year with a trip down to Florida to play South Florida and Stetson," Hensley said, "and our biggest non-conference opponent to ever come to Cullowhee is East Carolina. After the hard work that we accomplished in the spring and the addition of eight talented signees, we're very excited about the upcoming season and our chances in the SoCon."

2004 WCU SOCCER SCHEDULE

Aug. 18     Mars Hill ^               Cullowhee, NC     2:00 pm
Aug. 27     Gardner-Webb              Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Aug. 30     at Coastal Carolina       Conway, SC        4:00 pm
Sept. 3     UNC Asheville             Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
            Georgia State/Mariott Invitational (Sept. 10-12)
Sept. 10    vs. Jacksonville State    Atlanta, GA       4:00 pm
Sept. 12    at Georgia State          Atlanta, GA       1:00 pm
Sept. 16    at South Florida          Tampa, FL         7:30 pm
Sept. 19    at Stetson                Deland, FL        1:00 pm
Sept. 22    at Chattanooga *          Chattanooga, TN   6:00 pm
Sept. 24    College of Charleston *   Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Sept. 26    East Carolina             Cullowhee, NC     1:00 pm
Oct. 1      Elon *                    Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Oct. 3      at East Tennessee State * Johnson City, TN  2:00 pm
Oct. 6      at Davidson *             Davidson, NC      7:00 pm
Oct. 8      Wofford *                 Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Oct. 11     Furman *                  Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Oct. 15     at UNC Greensboro *       Greensboro, NC    7:00 pm
Oct. 24     at Appalachian State *    Boone, NC         2:00 pm
Oct. 29     The Citadel *             Cullowhee, NC     4:00 pm
Oct. 31     Georgia Southern *        Cullowhee, NC     2:00 pm
Nov. 4-7    SoCon Tournament          Greensboro, NC    TBA

^ - Exhibition
* - Conference Match