vs.

BAYLOR (0-0-0) vs. SAM HOUSTON STATE (0-0-0) Aug. 19, 2011 | 7 p.m. CT| Waco, Texas | Betty Lou Mays Field (3,000)

| Notes

The Baylor soccer team will kick off its 2011 season Friday night with a game against Sam Houston State at 7:00 p.m. at Betty Lou Mays Field. The Bears will hit the road for the second match of the weekend at Nebraska at 1:00 p.m.

"I think we are all ready to begin this season and excited to play in front of our fans," head coach Marci Jobson said. "This group is as prepared as any team I have coached and are eager to showcase that on the field."

Baylor, which is 10-4-1 in season-opening games, returns 21 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad which finished the year with an 11-7-2 mark, recording the most wins since 1999. In addition, BU registered four conference wins, which was the most since 2001.

Offensively, the Bears return 88 percent of their scoring from 2010, including their top three point leaders, Lisa Sliwinski (19), Hanna Gilmore (17) and Dana Larsen (14). On the defensive side of the ball, BU returns senior goalkeeper, Courtney Seelhorst, who recorded eight solo shutouts in 2010, tying her with Dawn Greathouse for second in most solo shutouts in a season. In addition, her 0.812 GAA on the year ranked her second all-time for goals-against average in a season at BU. She helped guide a defense that set a new program record for goals allowed with 16.

Baylor will welcome eight newcomers, including one transfer, to the 2011 squad.

Sam Houston returns six starters from a squad that tied a school team record with nine victories and earned the Bearkats their second consecutive Southland Conference tournament berth. Baylor leads the all-time series, 1-0 after a 2-0 win last season in Huntsville.

Nebraska, playing its first season as a member of the Big 10, was picked to finish seventh in the conference. The Huskers return seven of their 11 starters from a year ago and 13 letterwinners, while mixing in seven freshmen and one transfer. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 12-6-1, however BU defeated the Huskers 2-1 last season in Waco.

Fans will receive 2011 schedule cards, magnets and posters at Friday night's home opener.