COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – This weekend marks the end of pre-season training and the start of regular season play for the women’s soccer squad of Tennessee Tech.

The Golden Eagles leave today for a four-day stint on the road, matching up against two non-conference opponents before their return Sunday night. They will go head-to-head against SEC powerhouse Auburn in the first contest at 7 p.m. CST on Friday.

“To face Auburn in the non-conference schedule is very exciting,” said first-year coach Daniel Brizard. “If you can’t get pumped to play a team like Auburn then you don’t have a pulse.”

Tech is coming off a four-goal shutout over the Tennessee Wesleyan Lady Bulldogs in an exhibition game in Cookeville last weekend, and will face the Tigers for the first time in history. Auburn (10-9-3 overall/6-5-0 SEC) is one of two teams that the Golden Eagles will face this year that made NCAA tournament appearances last season. The Tigers went down to California, 2-1, in the first round.

A quick turnaround will take Tech from Auburn, Ala., to Chattanooga, Tenn., where they will take on the UT-Chattanooga Mocs at 1 p.m CST Sunday afternoon. Tech will be looking to avenge a loss to Chattanooga from early on last season when the Mocs netted three goals on the Golden Eagles in Cookeville. The Golden Eagles hope to return the favor when they take on UTC on the Mocs' home field.

A member of the Southern Conference, the Mocs went 7-8-1 overall, 2-8-1 in the SoCon last year.

“In-state competitions will always prove to be great match-ups,” said Brizard of the impending game. “Chattanooga is definitely going to give us the competition that we’re looking for early on in the season.”

The Golden Eagle squad will return to campus following the UT-Chattanooga match and will have a week off from competitive play before taking on Middle Tennessee the following Sunday (Aug. 29).