Nonconference clashes with Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, road trips to Las Vegas and the Midwest, and an always-rigorous Big Sky Conference slate highlight the 2016 Eastern Washington University Women’s Soccer schedule as announced by head coach Chad Bodnar on Monday, Feb. 29.
EWU will play a total of 19 regular season matches this fall, including seven contests in Cheney. The Eagles will play seven consecutive matches away from home during the nonconference portion of their schedule, giving Bodnar, now in his third season at the helm, a good indication of the mental and physical toughness of his squad heading into league play.
“We had a long road trip in our nonconference schedule a year ago, and we have another one this year,” Bodnar said. “Hitting the road early gives us a chance to find out more about ourselves and really enhances the cohesiveness of our group because we’re spending so much time together.
Eastern opens its 2016 campaign at home against Grand Canyon on Friday, Aug. 19, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Utah State visits Cheney the following Monday, Aug. 22.
The Eagles then hit the road for Las Vegas, Nev., and the UNLV Tournament that weekend, kicking off a stretch of seven straight matches. Notable outings include a match-up with local foe Gonzaga in Spokane on Friday, Sept. 2.
“We’re really excited to have Gonzaga back on our regular schedule,” Bodnar said. “Anytime you face an opponent who is right next door, it’s always going to be exciting.”
EWU opens league play at home against Idaho State on Friday, Sept. 23, before hosting Idaho, last year’s Big Sky regular season champion, on Sunday, Sept. 25. Eastern plays at Portland State on Friday, Sept. 30, then travels to Sacramento State for a rematch of last year’s Big Sky championship quarterfinal match on Sunday, Oct. 2. The Hornets knocked the Eagles out of the conference championship a year ago with a 3-1 victory.
Eastern welcomes Weber State to Cheney on Sunday, Oct. 9, then makes arguably the toughest road trip in the conference the following week with road matches at Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. The Eagles face the Thunderbirds on Friday, Oct. 14, before taking on the Lumberjacks on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Reigning Big Sky championship winner Northern Colorado comes to Cheney on Friday, Oct. 21. Eastern then makes a quick trip to Grand Forks, N.D., for a tilt at North Dakota on Sunday, Oct. 23. The Eagles’ Big Sky slate concludes at home against Montana on Friday, Oct. 28.
The Eagles welcome back 20 letter winners and all 11 starters from last year’s team, including reigning Big Sky Offensive MVP Chloe Williams, who is entering her third year with the program and was Big Sky Player of the Year
in 2015.
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