OREM -- The Utah Valley University women's soccer team and head coach Brent Anderson have announced the 2012 soccer schedule. The Wolverines will play six home matches during the regular season and will host the 2012 Great West Conference Tournament at Clyde Field.
The 2012 schedule features two matches with 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifiers and four in-state fixtures.
"We've got a great schedule this year," said Anderson. "We're playing some quality competition from all around the country and I know the team is excited about the opportunities and challenges we will face."
The Wolverine regular season kicks off Aug. 17 when UTEP visits Orem. The regular season opener is preceded by the annual inter-squad Green vs. White Game on Aug. 8, an Alumni Game on Aug. 11, and an exhibition contest at home against Westminster on Aug. 13.
UVU's first road trip of 2012 takes the Wolverines to the Aloha State for the OHANA Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi, hosted by the University of Hawaii. While there, UVU will face Sacred Heart of the Northeastern Conference on Aug. 22, then the host Rainbow Wahine on Aug. 26.
The Wolverines return from Hawaii for three straight games against in-state foes. UVU takes on two-time WAC champion and 2011 NCAA participant Utah State on Sep. 2 at Clyde Field, then hits the road for games at Weber State on Sep. 5 and Southern Utah on Sep. 8. Last season in Orem, the Wolverines fell to WSU 1-0 and battled SUU to a 3-3 draw.
Beginning Sep. 16, UVU will play six consecutive games away from Clyde Field, beginning with a trip to Laramie, Wyo. to meet the Cowgirls of Wyoming. The Wolverines then head north to face Idaho in Moscow on Sep. 21 followed by a quick stop in Seattle on Sep. 23 to battle Seattle University.
UVU returns to Utah for its fourth and final meeting with an in-state opponent when it meets crosstown rival BYU in Provo on Sep. 27. Two more road contests at Loyola Marymount on Sep. 30 and Cal State Bakersfield on Oct. 2 take place before the start of Great West Conference play.
Defense of last year's GWC title begins on Oct. 5 when the Wolverines welcome NJIT to Clyde Field. Three more conference road games at Howard, South Carolina State and Houston Baptist follow before UVU returns home for its final non-conference match. The Wolverines will host Big Sky member and 2011 NCAA qualifier Montana on Oct. 26. UVU beat the Grizzlies twice last season, winning in Missoula 2-1 and grabbing a 3-2 victory in Orem two weeks later.
A home match against Delaware State on Oct. 29 rounds out the regular season and sets the stage for the GWC Tournament to be held at Clyde Field from Nov. 2 to Nov. 5.
"It's an honor to be hosting the GWC Tournament this year," Anderson said. "We're excited at the chance to compete for a tournament title in front of our home fans".
Kellen Hiser is sports information assistant at Utah Valley University. For more information on Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.