Complete 2015 Schedule | Buy Season Tickets

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga men's soccer team released its 2015 fall schedule, which includes seven NCAA Tournament teams from last season, head coach Einar Thorarinsson announced on Wednesday.

Overall, this is a very challenging and exciting schedule," Thorarinsson said. "There is not an easy opponent across the board and our non-conference games will prepare us well as we head into WCC play."

The schedule will do the Bulldogs no favors, especially from the start. GU will start on the road at Washington on August 28. The Huskies went 12-5-3 a year ago and are one of seven NCAA teams on Gonzaga's schedule after making a run to the Round of 16 last year. The Bulldogs will stay on the west side of the state to face Seattle U. two days later.

"Playing UW is a welcome challenge from the start," Thorarinsson said. "We are excited to play against the best. And then Seattle U. is always a tough place to play. It will be a test for us right from the beginning."

Once September hits, GU will be in the friendly confines of Luger field for three solid weeks, including six home games. The home opener against Cal Poly is slated for Thursday, Sept. 3, followed by a tilt with NCAA Tournament opponent Northwestern on Sept. 5 in the first of two home tournaments that will feature neutral games as well. The following weekend GU will face another NCAA Tournament team in Hartwick on Friday, then host UW-Milwaukee on Sunday as part of its second home tournament.

"It is a welcome change for us to spend the month of September at home before we head back out on the road," Thorarinsson said.

Gonzaga will wrap up the six-game homestand with Utah Valley on Friday, Sept. 18 and Oregon State on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The Beavers are coming off a 12-8-1 year that featured a first-round win in the NCAA Tournament.

The Zags will then hit the road for six straight matches, taking them into WCC play. On Sept. 27, GU will make a return trip to UNLV, followed by an Oct. 2 tilt at Bradley in Peoria, Ill., and an Oct. 5 game at the University of Denver. Both UNLV and Denver earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament last season.

"The first three road games will get us ready for opening up WCC play," Thorarinsson said. "The stability in the league comes down to good recruiting. WCC teams have been able to reload every year."

The next three road matches mark the beginning of the league schedule, first with a trip to Portland on Oct. 11. GU heads to Loyola Marymount on Oct. 16 and wraps of the road swing with defending WCC Champion San Diego. The Toreros posted a 6-1-0 league mark last year on the way to an 11-6-4 overall mark. The Zags beat Portland in overtime to wrap the 2014 season, tied with LMU 0-0 and fell to USD 2-0 at home.

GU will then return home for three consecutive league games before finishing with a road finale. San Francisco, who defeated the Zags 2-1 in overtime last year, travel to Spokane on Friday, Oct. 30. Santa Clara will then follow on Sunday, Nov. 1. Saint Mary's wraps up the Bulldogs' home schedule on Nov. 8.

Gonzaga will then travel to Pacific for the regular-season finale on Nov. 14.

Gonzaga Soccer season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for just $25 at www.GoZags.com/tickets.