SPOKANE, Wash. - A challenging schedule faces the Gonzaga University women's soccer team in 2014. The Zags upcoming slate includes four matches against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament a season ago, two matches against first-time opponents, and a total of 10 non-conference matches that span seven different conferences.

"Our schedule will be very competitive this year," stated sixth-year head coach Amy Edwards. "The team is coming off a very successful spring. The depth that included 23 returnees got significant time together that allowed growth individually and as a team in which our staff was very excited to see. This experienced team has momentum going into the 2014 fall season and look to be a tough team to beat."

Of the 10 non-conference matches that begin the 2014 campaign for Gonzaga, three will take place at the Gonzaga Soccer Field, including a match against 2013 NCAA Tournament participant Washington State University. The Bulldogs will play four institutions that have new coaching staffs this season, highlighted by the University of Idaho, coached by former Zag associate head coach Derek Pittman.

The Zags out-of-league slate also features two matches to be played in the state of Texas and it being the first-time GU has played in Texas since the 1997 season.

After an exhibition match with Eastern Washington Thursday, Aug. 14 at the Gonzaga Soccer Field, the Bulldogs open the regular season playing four of their first six matches on the road.

Gonzaga's season-opening match is set for Friday, Aug. 22 at Cal State Bakersfield; members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Zags close out the opening weekend with a contest at Fresno State, Sunday, Aug. 25. Fresno State finished second in the Mountain West Conference a season ago, finishing league with a 7-2-1 mark.

The Zags return to Spokane to host two matches; the University of Montana (Fri., Aug. 29) in their regular-season home-opener, and the University of Idaho (Sun., Aug. 31). The Grizzlies, members of the Big Sky Conference, closed out the 2013 campaign with a 7-8-4 overall record, while the Vandals ended last season with a 4-8 mark in the WAC and are now coached by Pittman.

A two-match roadtrip to California that features Cal State Northridge (Fri., Sept. 5) and UC Irvine (Sun., Sept. 7) begins a stretch of seven matches in 17 days for Gonzaga, five of which are on the road. The lone home match during the span is Fri., Sept. 12 against Washington State. The Cougars are coming off an impressive season that saw them finish second in the PAC-12 Conference with a 7-3-1 record.

The final three non-conference matches for Gonzaga are at Boise State University (Mon., Sept. 15), at North Texas University (Fri., Sept. 19) and at Southern Methodist University (Sun., Sept. 21).

The Bulldogs will play both North Texas and Southern Methodist for the first-time in school history. The Mean Green of North Texas placed second in the West Division of Conference USA in 2013 with a 6-3-1 mark and lost to Colorado College in the CUSA Conference Tournament title match, while the Mustangs are in their second year as members of the American Athletic Conference and finished 9-9-1 overall in 2013.

The Zags open West Coast Conference action at home in 2014, hosting Saint Mary's College Friday, Oct. 3 and second-year member University of the Pacific Sunday, Oct. 5.

The always-dominant WCC saw three teams advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2013; BYU, University of Portland and Santa Clara University. The Bulldogs play both the Cougars (Sat., Oct.11) and the Broncos (Fri., Oct. 31) on the road this season and host the Pilots (Sat., Nov. 8) to close out the league play.

Gonzaga finished the 2013 campaign with a 7-11-1 overall mark and a 3-6 record in the WCC. The Bulldogs returns 23 letterwinners in 2014, including nine starters.

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Season tickets for women's soccer are currently on sale for $25, along with Family Passes, which includes two adults and up to four children for all regular season home matches for both men's and women's soccer, for $75. Season tickets and Family Passes can be purchased online by clicking hereor in person at the Gonzaga Athletic Ticket Office.