TOLEDO, OH - Toledo will kick off the 2016 campaign this weekend when it faces Quinnipiac on Friday, Aug. 19 and Wagner on Sunday, Aug. 21. The opening whistle against the Bobcats is slated for 3:00 p.m. from QU Soccer Field, while the contest versus the Seahawks will commence at 2:00 p.m. from Hameline Field.

UT, which was picked to finish tied for fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, sports an impressive 13-6-2 mark in season-opening matches in program history. A year ago in the debut of head coach TJ Bucholz, the Rockets overcame a 2-0 deficit to pull off a 3-2 double-overtime triumph at Detroit. 

Toledo returns 16 letterwinners this fall, including seven starters from last year's squad that finished 9-12-0 overall, 5-6-0 in the MAC, and qualified for the MAC Tournament. Most notably, junior midfielder Isa Echeverri, a two-time second-team all-league selection, who earlier this month represented her home country of Colombia in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will be the Rockets' top offensive threat. Echeverri started 20 matches last fall and tied for third in the MAC in shots (51) and tied for eighth in goals (6).

In addition, sophomore goalkeeper Katie Wilson, who finished sixth in the conference in goals-against average (1.05) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4), returns to lead the Midnight Blue & Gold defensively.

Quinnipiac is coming off an 8-8-1 overall ledger in 2015, including a 4-5-1 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Bobcats will be led by 2015 MAAC Rookie of the Year Nadya Gill and Jess Fontaine. A second-team all-league selection as well, Gill paced the squad with 19 points (eight goals, three assists) last fall, while Fontaine finished close behind with 17 points (five markers, seven helpers). Quinnipiac has been tabbed to finish tied for sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Wagner sported a 5-12-1 overall record last fall, including a 4-4-0 tally in the Northeast Conference. The Seahawks will be fueled offensively by Megan Fritz, who totaled a team-high 12 points (five goals, two assists) last fall. Wagner will open its season against New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on Friday before entertaining the Rockets two days later in its home opener.

Toledo will meet both Quinnipiac and Wagner for the first time in program history. The Rockets are 3-0-0 in contests against MAAC opponents, defeating Canisius, 8-0, at home in 2002 and Niagara on two occasions, 4-0 at home in 1999 and most recently, 5-2, at home during in 2011. UT has faced only one university from the NEC, St. Francis (PA), who it defeated, 5-0, at home in 1997.  

Following this weekend's season-opening matches, the Rockets will remain on the road and travel to Atlantic Coast Conference power Louisville on Sunday, Aug. 28. 



Quinnipiac: LIVE STATS - VIDEO

Wagner: LIVE STATS - VIDEO