Barrera officially announces 2010 women's soccer schedule

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2010 Northern Colorado women's soccer schedule

GREELEY -- As the Northern Colorado 2010 women’s soccer schedule is released, three local rivalry games highlight the early portion of the season.

The Bears will begin their season with exhibition matches at Oklahoma and at home against Regis. The team, returning nine of eleven players from a squad that finished 6-10-1 last season, will kick off its regular season in Laramie against the Cowgirls of Wyoming on August 20.

Last season, in a hard-fought game televised on Fox Soccer Channel, the Bears lost 1-0 against the Cowgirls in Greeley.

Continuing with the local rivalry theme, Northern Colorado’s home opener comes at home against Air Force on August 22. The Bears will look to continue their winning ways against the Cadets, after winning 3-1 last season.

“The games against Air Force and Wyoming are always important and fun games for us,” said Northern Colorado head coach Tim Barrera. “The Wyoming game last year was exceptionally valuable because of the chance our girls had to play on Fox Soccer Channel.”

After another home game against Idaho, the Bears travel up the road to take on another in-state foe, the University of Colorado-Boulder, kicking off a six-game road trip.  Northern Colorado last met up with the Buffaloes in an exhibition match during the spring. The Bears will look to avenge their 2-1 loss in that match.

Next, the Bears take on both Farleigh Dickinson and The Citadel on Air Force’s campus.

After traveling to the campus of Utah Valley to take on Southern Utah and Utah Valley, the Bears return to Colorado Springs to take on Colorado College.

Finally, on September 24, the Bears return home to begin a two-game home stand against WAC opponent New Mexico State and defending WAC champion, Boise State.

“It will be really good for us to finally get off the road and play a couple home games before the Big Sky season starts,” said Barrera. “Those two games against such quality opponents should really help us prepare for conference competition.”

Northern Colorado begins its Big Sky portion of the schedule with a two-game road trip against Weber State and Idaho State.

Returning home, Northern Colorado takes on defending Big Sky champ, Portland State on October 15. Continuing a three-game home stand, the Bears take on Sacramento State and Eastern Washington.

The squad ends its regular season with two road-games against Montana and Northern Arizona.

“I’m really excited about this year’s potential," Barrera said. “This will be the most experience we have returned in a long time. We’ve had a very productive spring and look forward to integrating some new pieces into our team.”