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The University of Dayton women's soccer team opens the 2014 regular season with a road swing to Texas. The Flyers face off against No. 9 Texas A&M this Friday, Aug. 22 at Ellis Field in College Station, Texas in the home opener for the Aggies. UD then takes on Rice this Sunday, Aug. 24 at Holloway Field in Houston for the Owls' home opener.

ABOUT THE FLYERS
Mike Tucker is entering his 20th season as head coach of the Flyers in 2014. He has an overall record of 282-96-27. UD is 10-8-1 in season openers with Tucker at the helm. Dayton, preseason favorites to win the 2014 Atlantic 10 title, has captured 11 A-10 regular season titles and eight A-10 tournament titles. The Flyers have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times. UD returns seven starters from the 2013 team that posted a 14-5-2 overall record and claimed the A-10 regular season title with a 7-1-0 mark. Dayton returns its top goal scorer junior forward Ashley Campbell (18 goals, 5 assists), who also led the A-10 and was named A-10 Offensive Player of the Year. UD also returns junior midfielder Nicole Waters (4 goals, 17 assists) who led the nation in assists per match in 2013. 

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Texas A&M is ranked No. 4 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 preseason ranking, and No. 9 in the NSCAA preseason poll.  A&M returns 10 starters from the 2013 campaign and returnees account for 54 of the Aggies' 56 goals last season. The list of returnees includes a pair of former NSCAA All-Americans Meghan Streight (2012) and Shea Groom (2013). A&M posted an 18-5-2 record for the year, claimed their first-ever SEC regular-season title with a 9-2-0 league record and captured an SEC Tournament crown. The Maroon and White appeared in their 19th consecutive NCAA Division I Championship, advanced to the Second Round for the 16th consecutive year and appeared in the Sweet 16 for the 12th time in program history.

SCOUTING RICE
The Owls return nine starters from a squad that posted a 7-8-3 overall record in 2013 and finished fourth in the West Division of the Conference USA standings with a mark of 5-4-1. The Owls made NCAA appearances in 2004 and 2005. Juniors Lauren Hughes (9 goals, 8 assists) and Holly Hargreaves (9 goals, 3 assists) led Rice in goals scored in 2013 as sophomores. 

SERIES INFO
The Flyers and Aggies have not matched up since playing in back-to-back seasons in 1986 and 87. Dayton won the first meeting 2-0 in the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tournament, but fell 2-1 in the same tournament matchup the following season.  The Flyers are 8-7-2 all-time vs. SEC schools (Arkansas 1-0-0; Auburn 1-0-1; Florida 0-1-0; Kentucky 2-4-1; LSU 1-0-0; Tennessee 0-1-0; Texas A&M 1-1-0; Vanderbilt 2-0-0).
This marks the first matchup for the Flyers vs. Rice. Dayton is 9-5-1 all-time against current Conference USA teams (Charlotte 4-5-1; FIU 1-0-0; Florida Atlantic 1-0-0; Marshall 1-0-0; Middle Tennessee State 1-0-0; UTSA 1-0-0).

UP NEXT
The Flyers host UC Santa Barbara Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Baujan Field. It will be a Red Out and the first 150 fans will receive a free 2014 schedule poster. Sunday, Aug. 31 the Flyers will host Murray State at 1 p.m. at Baujan Field. All UD regular season matches at Baujan Field are free admission.