DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's soccer team opens the season this Saturday, Aug. 15 at Baujan Field with an exhibition match against Louisville at 2 p.m. ET. Admission is free for all Flyer men's and women's soccer matches.

The Flyers posted a 15-6-1 overall record and advanced to the finals of the 2008 A-10 Championship. Ranked No. 27 in the preseason by TopDrawerSoccer.com, UD was picked to finish first in the Atlantic 10 in a preseason coaches poll.

The Cardinals return seven starters from a squad that went 9-7-3 last year and finished fourth in the Big East. Senior Lindsay Boling led the team last year with six goals.

The Flyers return a highly-touted group of six seniors (Mandi Bäck, Cara Cornacchia, Colleen Gibson, Lauren MacCormick, Lauren Maybury, Caitlin Proffitt), five juniors (Kelly Blumenschein, Jerica DeWolfe, Allison Giner, Tori Oelschlager, Lisa Rodgers) and five sophomores (Kathleen Beljan, Josie Grant, Emily Kenyon, Kelsey Miller, Kelsey Owen) and will boost the squad with 12 freshmen (Katherine Boone, Shannon Donoher, Clare Dreher, Linsey Eckel, Ali Forbrich, Alexis Garcia, Maggie Hinkle, Alysha Mallon, Alle Pacetta, Jordan Sanfrotello, Jackie Thompson, Colleen Williams).

Dayton led the way with five selections - more than any other school - on the A-10 Preseason All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams.

Bäck, Gibson and Beljan were named to the 2009 Preseason All-Conference Team for the Flyers. Incoming UD freshmen Garcia and Williams were selected to the 11-person Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Rookie Team.