Rockwood announces 2013 schedule

BYU women’s soccer head coach Jennifer Rockwood has announced the 2013 schedule.

Big 12, PAC-12, Big 10 teams coming to Provo.

The Cougars, who finished the 2012 campaign with a 20-2-2 record and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight, will face a competitive and challenging schedule featuring teams from the Big 12, PAC-12, SEC and Big 10.

Highlighting the 2013 campaign are games against six teams that went to the 2012 NCAA Women’s College Cup (two of which advanced to the Sweet 16) and four teams that finished ranked in last year’s NSCAA final poll.

Cougar fans will enjoy 12 home games at South Field beginning with a preseason matchup against the Haitian National Team. Fans will also be able to catch most of the soccer games on BYUtv. Currently, nine home contests are tentatively slated for national broadcast.

“We are proud to have another great schedule for our players to showcase themselves,” Rockwood said. “Having such tremendous fan support helps our ability to host such great teams in Provo. With a solid combination of experience and youth on the field next season, we will find out quickly exactly how good we are and where we need to improve before we head into our difficult WCC schedule.”

The 2013 season begins on Aug. 16 with an exhibition match against the Haitian National Team at 7 p.m.

The home opener will be against Big West Conference Champions, Cal State Fullerton on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.  A week later, the Cougars will face Nebraska. The last meeting between the Cougars and Cornhuskers was in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2001.

BYU takes its first road trip of the 2013 season to SEC powerhouse, LSU on Sept. 2. In their last meeting in Provo, the Cougars tied LSU 0-0 in 2010.

Two matchups against Pac-12 teams follow as the Cougars host in-state rival Utah on Sept. 6 before playing at Oregon on Sept. 12. BYU played at Oregon in 2012 and won 1-0.

South Field will be the setting for the team’s next two games. On Sept. 14 BYU plays host to 2010 Sweet 16 participant UC Irvine and then plays Oklahoma on Sept. 19. This will be the second ever meeting vs. the Sooners.

Two days later the Cougars will find themselves in California battling 2012 NCAA tournament team Long Beach State on Sept. 21.

Rounding out the month of September is a game vs. Denver on the 26^th. The Pioneers advanced to last year’s Sweet 16 before losing to Final Four participant Stanford.

The Cougars next find themselves on the road in a critical three-game road swing that begins with a first time matchup against 2012 Big 12 Champion, Baylor on Oct. 4.  The Bears finished last year ranked No. 11 and lost in penalty kicks to eventual champions North Carolina during the third round of last year’s NCAA tournament.

BYU prepares to defend its 2012 West Coast Conference regular-season title with road games at San Francisco and Santa Clara on Oct. 10 and 12.

“We are anxious to defend our WCC title in 2013,” added Rockwood. “The road schedule this year is particularly challenging with games at both traditional powerhouses Portland and Santa Clara. Every conference opponent is demanding and one game can make the difference in a season. We have to be consistent in our preparation for each match and have a clear game plan in place for each of our opponents.”

After the grueling road trip, the Cougars continue league action at home hosting Pepperdine on Oct. 17 and LMU on Oct. 19 before heading back on the road for conference games at Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and at Portland on Oct. 26.

BYU rounds out its conference schedule at home with three straight contests. San Diego comes to South Field on Nov. 1. On Nov. 7 the Cougars welcome newcomer Pacific before finishing the season hosting Saint Mary’s on Nov. 9.

BYU home soccer matches are played on South Field

^ Exhibition match

# All start times are local to site

* Indicates West Coast Conference match