Women's Soccer

June 18, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State women's soccer squad released the schedule for the 2012 season on Monday (June 18). The Spartans face a 20-game slate which features five teams who qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago, as well as the always-challenging Big Ten slate.

We are looking forward to the challenge of our 2012 schedule," said head coach Tom Saxton. "The non-conference portion features a mix of some of our traditional regional rivals as well as some excellent home matches against opponents from other regions. The Big Ten schedule will be tougher than ever this fall but we should have a talented, young team ready to take it on."

Saxton and his team begin the year on the road with Milwaukee and Bowling Green. The Spartans compete in an exhibition game against Milwaukee, who advanced to the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, on Saturday, Aug. 11 before traveling to Bowling Green on Friday, Aug. 17.

Returning to East Lansing on Sunday, Aug. 19, Michigan State welcomes Fordham for the 2012 home opener and then remains at DeMartin Stadium for the next three matchups. MSU hosts Loyola on Friday, Aug. 24, Cal State-Fullerton on Sunday, Aug. 26 and then Akron on Sunday, Sept. 2.

The Spartans hit the road but stay in-state on Wednesday, Sept. 5 when they face Oakland for a midweek tilt in Rochester, Mich. Nonconference play concludes at home with Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 9 and Western Michigan on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Big Ten action kicks off as the Spartans welcome Purdue to DeMartin Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 16. The team will travel to Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 21 en route to St. Paul, Minn. where they will face the Gophers on Sunday, Sept. 23. The following weekend, MSU hosts Nebraska (Sept. 28) and Iowa (Sept. 30.)

Road tilts at Illinois and Michigan are next on the calendar, on Saturday, Oct. 6 and Wednesday, Oct. 10, respectively. Michigan State will then host Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 14 before heading out on the final road trip of the year. MSU first takes on Penn State on Friday, Oct. 19 and then faces Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 21. The Spartans host their regular season finale on Saturday, Oct. 27 against Northwestern.

The Spartans will look to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Indiana, on Oct. 31- Nov. 4.

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