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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tennessee Tech women's soccer coach Daniel Brizard has announced the team's 2012 schedule consisting of 20 matches, including an exhibition contest to get the ball rolling.

In addition to the 10-game Ohio Valley Conference slate, the Golden Eagles will play nine non-conference contests and an exhibition match. The majority of the team's non-conference schedule will be played in Tennessee, either at home or on the road against in-state rivals, and in North Carolina.

Brizard's squad will kick off play on Saturday, Aug. 11 with a trip to Tennessee Wesleyan for a 2 p.m. exhibition match. The following Friday, Aug. 17, marks the team's regular season opener, a home game against East Tennessee State at 3 p.m.

The Golden Eagles will then take to the road for a three-game stint, starting with a match against Chattanooga on Sunday, Aug. 19 at 12 p.m. Next comes a visit to High Point on Friday, Aug. 24 for a 6 p.m. night game and a journey to Davidson on Sunday, Aug. 26 for a 1 p.m. contest. The team will close out the August portion of the schedule hosting Northern Kentucky on Aug. 31 at 3 p.m.

Tech will open up September with a trip to Missouri out of the SEC on Sunday, Sept. 2 with a 1 p.m. match, and return home to host Middle Tennessee in Cookeville on Friday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. The team will finish the non-conference schedule with trips to Western Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 9 (1 p.m.) and Lipscomb on Monday, Sept. 17 in a 7 p.m. nightcap.

"As always, we've worked to put together a non-conference schedule that will complement conference play," Brizard said. "We're focusing a lot on regional non-conference competition with the goal of facing opponents that will prepare us for the OVC."

September 23 will mark the start of conference action, with the Golden Eagles playing three straight at home to open up OVC play. The Golden Eagles will take on Jacksonville State on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m., SIU Edwardsville on Friday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. and Eastern Illinois on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.

TTU will play only two home matches in October, and start off the month playing Morehead State on the road on Friday. Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. and EKU on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. The Golden Eagles will return home for Belmont on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. before taking to the road again to play Austin Peay in Clarksville on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. and Murray State on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Tech will host Southeast Missouri on Friday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. before taking on the defending conference champions, the UT Martin Skyhawks, on Sunday Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. in Martin.

"The OVC is proving to become more competitive every year," Brizard said. "With a leveled playing field narrowing the gap between the top and bottom of the conference, every game takes on more significance."

* Denotes an Ohio Valley Conference game
BOLD denotes a home match
(x) denotes an exhibition contest
All times listed in central time and are subject to change