June 20, 2007
WACO, Texas --- The Baylor soccer team released its 2007 schedule head coach George Van Linder announced on Wednesday as nine home games and five contests against teams that participated in the 2006 NCAA Soccer Championship highlight the slate.
"We are excited about our schedule this fall as we have some very challenging non-conference match-ups," Van Linder said. "The Big 12 portion of the schedule is always a challenge and we always look forward to the opportunity to test ourselves against quality opponents."
Following an exhibition match at Houston on Saturday, Aug. 25, the Bears open the 2007 season at home when Baylor faces Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7:00 p.m. followed by a meeting with Texas State on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 1:00 p.m.
The non-conference portion of the schedule is highlighted by a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., for a pair of contests at the Jacksonville Invitational. Baylor will open play at the tournament on Friday, Sept. 7, as the Bears face Jacksonville, the defending champion of the Atlantic Sun Conference, at 6:00 p.m. before concluding the tournament with a meeting against Stetson on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Baylor will conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule with a pair of home dates against Iona (Sept. 21) and Delaware (Sept. 23) in addition to traveling to face non-conference opponents UTSA (Sept. 4), Cal State Northridge (Sept. 14) and Long Beach State (Sept. 16).
Following the conclusion of non-conference play, Baylor opens the conference schedule with a pair of games at home as the Bears welcome Kansas on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. followed by a contest against Missouri on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 1:00 p.m.
In addition to facing the Jayhawks and Tigers at home, Baylor will host Colorado (Oct. 12) and Texas (Oct. 14) before closing out the home portion of the schedule against Texas Tech on Friday, Oct. 26, at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to the home contests, the Bears will travel to face Oklahoma (Oct. 4), Oklahoma State (Oct. 6), Nebraska (Oct. 19) and Iowa State (Oct. 21) in conference play prior to closing out the regular season at College Station, Texas, to face defending Big 12 Conference champion Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Baylor returns eight starters, including first-team All-Big 12 Conference goalkeeper Ashley Holder, from last year's squad that went 6-12-1 and advanced to the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2001.
