FIU Women's Soccer Announces Challenging '08 Schedule

April 28, 2008

FIU women's soccer coach Thomas Chestnutt recently announced his 2008 fall schedule. Among the non-conference highlights is a meeting with nationally-ranked and in-state foe Florida State and cross-town rival Miami.



The Golden Panthers will kick off the fall season with a home exhibition against Texas A&M. The Aggies finished the season ranked second in the nation after winning the Big 12 regular season championship, and reaching the finals of the conference tournament.



After a second exhibition, this one against Florida Tech, FIU kicks off the regular season by hosting Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday, August 24. The Eagles finished third in the Atlantic Sun Conference last season.



The Golden Panthers will then make the trip across town to take on the University of Miami. The Hurricanes reached the NCAA Tournament last season and were receiving votes in the final NSCAA poll.



After hosting the University of Buffalo, FIU will face, arguably, its toughest test of the regular season as they travel to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles. FSU reached the finals of the NCAA Tournament last season before being defeated by Southern California.



After a trip to Jacksonville to take on North Florida, FIU will head west for games against Fresno State and Cal Poly. The Bulldogs of Fresno State finished second in the WAC and reached the conference tournament finals. The Cal Poly Mustangs are a perennial Top-50 program and last year they reached the finals of the Big West championship tournament.



"As a coaching staff, we feel fortunate to provide our players with a top notch schedule, which will allow them to mature as players and people," said Chestnutt about the tough non-conference schedule. "This schedule should prepare us well for the very competitive Sunbelt schedule"



The Golden Panthers will then kick off the Sun Belt Conference season by hosting the Blue Raiders of Middle-Tennessee on September 26. The Golden Panthers will host five conference games, while they will hit the road for six of them. Among the road opponents are the defending SBC Champions and NCAA Tournament participant University of Denver.



The 2008 Sun Belt Championship Tournament will be hosted by North Texas this season. If all goes well for the Golden Panthers, they hope to be making the trip to Denton come November.