Devils add Union, Rochester to '09 schedule
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Women's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State women's soccer coach Chris Case expects his team to benefit through the addition to the 2009 schedule of two traditionally strong non-conference teams.
The Blue Devils will play at University of Rochester on Sept. 4, and at Union on Oct. 3. Both teams made the NCAA Division III tournament last fall -- Rochester for the 26th time overall and Union for the ninth time in 10 years.
"I wanted to toughen up our schedule," Case said, "and get some of the stronger in-region teams on our schedule. It (the addition of Rochester and Union) will give us five teams that are traditionally ranked in the top six of their respective region."
The goal is to improve upon a 4-5-1 record last year in the SUNYAC. The Blue Devils were 11-6-1 overall.
"Our goal is to improve upon that," Case said. "I believe by adding some tougher non-conference opponents, it will help us prepare for our tough conference games."
The Blue Devils play five of their SUNYAC games at University Stadium, the remaining four on the road.
The home opponents are Buffalo State (Sept. 19, 7 p.m.), Potsdam (Oct. 16, 4 p.m.), Plattsburgh (Oct. 17, 1 p.m.), Brockport (Oct. 23, 6 p.m.), and Geneseo (Oct. 24, 5 p.m.). The road games are: defending champ Oneonta (Sept. 25), New Paltz (Sept. 26), Cortland (Oct. 9), and Oswego (Oct. 10).
The home schedule will also include two games in the Clarion Hotel Soccer Classic. The Blue Devils will be playing their home opener when they meet St. Lawrence at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. The following day, it's Penn State Behrend providing the opposition at 7 p.m.
Visits by Westminster (Sept. 30, 5 p.m.), traditionally another strong regional team, and Elmira (Oct. 6, 6 p.m.) are also on the home schedule.
In addition to games at Rochester and Union, the Blue Devils have three other non-conference games away from home. They open the season Sept. 1 at Medaille, face Kings College on Sept. 6 (the second day of the Rochester Tournament), and return to Rochester to meet St. John Fisher on Sept. 8.