MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry University women’s soccer schedule, which was released today by head coach Fred Jungemann, comes with a twist ending in 2012.
For the first time since 2002, the conference soccer schedule consists of more than just one-time round-robin play. In 2002, the women’s soccer teams played twice through the league with the Bucs winning the title after going an outstanding 12-0. In 2012, the teams will play a “+ 4” schedule, playing once through the league and then doubling back to play four more games against conference foes. The twist ending? Those four additional games will not count in the conference standings.
“We have had some difficult schedules the last couple of seasons and, this year, things are no different,” Jungemann said. “With the change to the ‘+4’ conference schedule this year, we are faced with playing multiple games against some very strong conference opponents. While every week will present tough competition for us this season, we are confident our depth and talent will help us use the schedule to our advantage. We are looking forward to the start of the season and the challenge of good competition.”
The Bucs kick off the season with a trip to Alabama to face the Montevallo Falcons and the North Alabama Lions on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 respectively. The Bucs are 3-1 against the Lions and won the only meeting in Florence 5-1 back in 2003. They have never faced the Falcons.
The Bucs face a pair of South Florida rivals on Sept. 7 and 10. They travel up to Magic Jack Stadium to face the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on the seventh, and then host the St. Thomas Bobcats on the 10th in their home opener at Buccaneer Field. At 8-0 against the Sailfish and a program-best 25-0 against the Bobcats, the Bucs have never lost to either team.
The rest of the season consists entirely of Sunshine State Conference foes, with six games at home and six on the road. The Bucs travel to Saint Leo (Sept. 15), Tampa (Sept. 22), Eckerd (Sept. 29), Nova Southeastern (Oct. 13), Florida Tech (Oct. 20) and Lynn (Oct. 24). They host Lynn (Sept. 18), Tampa (Oct. 2), Rollins (Oct. 6), Saint Leo (Oct. 10), Florida Southern (Oct. 17) and Eckerd (Oct. 27). The Bucs’ “+4” games are at Tampa and Lynn and at home against Saint Leo and Eckerd.
The top six teams earn bids into the SSC Tournament, with the top two seeds getting quarterfinal byes. The quarterfinal round will be played Oct. 30 at the higher seeds, while the semi-finals and finals will be at the top seed on Nov. 2-4. The winner of the league earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament that runs from Nov. 8 through Dec. 1.
There are a couple of games to mark on your schedule. On Oct. 6 as the Bucs face off against Rollins, the Bucs celebrate their three national championships and members of all three title teams (1989, 1992, 1993) are invited back for a reunion. On Oct. 27 against Eckerd, the Bucs will honor the 2012 senior class, including 2011 leading scorer Melissa Madrid, four-year starters in Sofia Jakobsson, Katie Lamendola, and key reserves Emily Brunnschweiler and Sarah Wolfer.