NEWARK, DE – The University of Delaware women’s soccer team has released its 2008 schedule, an 18-game slate that features match-ups with three squads - all from the Colonial Athletic Association - that made the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Blue Hens posted an 8-10 record in 2007, but they lose just five seniors from last season’s team and will look to climb the CAA ranks this fall. Head coach Scott Grzenda, entering his 19th year at the helm, will welcome back its top two scorers in strikers Amy Pickard and Caitlyn Germain, who combined for 15 goals and six assists in 2007. Although the Hens will miss all-conference midfielder Emily Sammis, they’ll look to a talented group of young players to step up and make an impact.

Delaware begins its 2008 season by hosting the Blue Hen Classic at the UD Mini-Stadium, where the Hens will take on Lafayette on Aug. 29 and square off with Big East contender St. John’s two days later. Then it’s off to the Navy Tournament for match-ups with Central Connecticut State on Sept. 5 and Winthrop on Sept. 7.

Next on the docket is a three-day trip to Ivy League powerhouse Yale, where the Hens will meet the Bulldogs (11-6 last year) on Sept. 12 before they square off with Sacred Heart on the 14th. Delaware finishes off its non-conference schedule Sept. 19 versus Saint Joseph’s, a squad the Hens blew out by a 7-0 tally in ‘07.

UD opens its Colonial Athletic Association schedule on Sept. 26 with a road test against defending league champion Hofstra. The Pride went 18-4-0 a year ago, when they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and received 42 votes in the final NSCAA poll.

The Hens kick off a three-game homestand Sept. 28 against Northeastern and follow that up by hosting an explosive William & Mary squad on Oct. 3. The Tribe (15-5-2 in 2007) captured the CAA regular-season title last fall and reached the second round of the NCAA tourney. After Old Dominion visits the Mini-Stadium on Oct. 5, UD travels to Harrisonburg, VA for an Oct. 10 showdown with James Madison (17-5-1 last season), another NCAA second-round participant.

Things don’t get much easier on Oct. 12, when Delaware faces CAA Tournament finalist Virginia Commonwealth. The Hens return to the Mini-Stadium for match-ups with Towson (Oct. 17) and George Mason (Oct. 19).

The Hens close out the regular season with three consecutive road games, as they visit Georgia State on Oct. 24, UNC Wilmington on Oct. 26, and Drexel on Oct. 30.

Delaware’s 2008 opponents posted a combined winning percentage of .511 last season, as 10 of them finished at .500 or better.

2008 University of Delaware Women’s Soccer Schedule: Aug. 29 vs. Lafayette (Blue Hen Classic), 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 31 vs. St. John’s (Blue Hen Classic), 2:30 p.m.; Sept. 5 vs. Central Connecticut State (Navy Tournament), 4 p.m.; Sept. 7 vs. Winthrop (Navy Tournament), noon; Sept. 12 vs. Yale (Yale Tournament), TBD; Sept. 14 vs. Sacred Heart (Yale Tournament), TBD; Sept. 19 vs. Saint Joseph’s, 7 p.m.; Sept. 26 at *Hofstra, 7 p.m.; Sept. 28 vs. *Northeastern, 1 p.m.; Oct. 3 vs. *William & Mary, 7 p.m.; Oct. 5 vs. *Old Dominion, 1 p.m.; Oct. 10 at *James Madison, 7 p.m.; Oct. 12 at *Virginia Commonwealth, 1 p.m.; Oct. 17 vs. *Towson, 7 p.m.; Oct. 19 vs. *George Mason, 1 p.m.; Oct. 24 at *Georgia State, 4 p.m.; Oct. 26 at *UNC Wilmington, 2 p.m.; Oct. 30 at *Drexel, 7 p.m.