April 21, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The University of Miami along with head coach Tricia Taliaferro announced the 2005 women's soccer schedule Thursday.

UM's 19-game 2005 slate will feature 12 NCAA College Cup teams from a year ago. Among those teams include last year's Final Four participant, Princeton, who comes to Coral Gables as part of a 10-game home schedule.

"We are really excited about this year's schedule," said Taliaferro. "With the number of teams we'll face that made the tournament a year ago, we'll get the chance to go up against some of the best teams in the nation."

With the addition of Boston College to the ACC - which now boasts nine NCAA Tournament teams from 2004 - in 2005, the Hurricanes will play 11 conference games next season.

"The caliber of play in our out-of-conference schedule is going to test us early, but in the long-run that will help us when it comes time to face the ACC which is arguably the best conference in the country," Taliaferro stated. "We also missed a lot of games last year due to the hurricanes so it will be nice to play a full schedule once again."

The Hurricanes open the 2005 season August 28, hosting Monmouth before returning to take on in-state foe, Stetson August 31.

UM then plays host to the Miami Tournament September 2-4, featuring Florida Atlantic, Princeton and UCLA. The Hurricanes take on FAU in the tournament's opening match Friday and come back Sunday to square off with Princeton at 2:30 p.m.

Following the Miami Tournament, UM hits a four-game road stretch with matches at Indiana (Sept. 9), at Florida International (Sept. 14), at 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifier Auburn (Sept. 16) capped off by a game at South Carolina (Sept. 18).

The Hurricanes open the ACC schedule September 22, hosting NC State before taking on North Carolina - who finished the 2004 season ranked No. 2 nationally by Soccer Buzz - September 25.

Miami then heads to Blacksburg, Va. September 29 to play Virginia Tech prior to a match with 2004 ACC Champions, Virginia, October 2 in Charlottesville, Va.

UM welcomes a pair of 2004 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 teams in Boston College and Maryland, October 6 and October 9, respectively.

After an October 12 game at Clemson, the Hurricanes head home to battle in-state ACC rivals, Florida State October 16 and then hit the road for an October 18 match at UCF.

Miami plays host to Wake Forest in the regular-season home finale October 23 before wrapping up the season at Duke October 28.