By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The 2017 schedule for the Willamette University women's soccer team begins with one home game, followed by six consecutive road games, but the Bearcats will close out the year  by playing eight of their final 13 regular season games at Sparks Field.

"We are excited for the season to begin," Willamette Head Coach Hillary Arthur said. "We are returning 15 players from the 2016 season and have added nine incoming players for the fall."

After hosting an exhibition game against Evergreen State College (Wash.) at 1 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday, Aug. 26, Willamette will play the Alumni Game on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. The Bearcats will open the regular season at home against Northwest Christian University (Ore.) on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

The next six games are on the road, including a game at Warner Pacific College (Ore.) in Portland, on Sept. 4, followed by games in Dallas, Texas, against Concordia University-Chicago and University of Texas-Dallas on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, respectively.

"In past seasons we have traveled to UC Santa Cruz and to Southern California to compete. We are looking forward to new experiences and great competition in Texas at the UT-Dallas Comet Cup," Arthur said.

The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play with games at Whitworth University on Sept. 16, Whitman College on Sept. 17 and Linfield College on Sept. 23.

Willamette's first home game in NWC action is set for Sunday, Sept. 24 versus Pacific Lutheran University at 12 p.m. (PDT). Three days later, the Bearcats will host Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

After playing road games at Pacific University on Sept. 30 and at University of Puget Sound on Oct. 7, Willamette will return to Salem for a four-game homestand -- all against NWC opponents.

The Bearcats will battle George Fox University on Sunday, Oct. 8, followed by match-ups with Whitworth on Saturday, Oct. 14 and Whitman on Sunday, Oct. 15. The homestand will conclude against Linfield on Saturday, Oct. 21. All four games will start at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Following the home game with Linfield, the Bearcats will travel to Tacoma, Washington, to face Pacific Lutheran on Sunday, Oct. 22. On Wednesday, Oct. 25, WU will battle Lewis & Clark in Portland.

Willamette is slated to take on Pacific University at Sparks Field on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will host Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 12 o.m., before closing out the regular season at George Fox on Nov. 5.