TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo kicks off the 2017 campaign this weekend when it takes on Detroit Mercy on Friday, Aug. 18 before hosting Canisius on Sunday, Aug. 20 at Scott Park. The opening whistle against UDM is slated for 3:00 p.m. from Titan Field, while the contest versus the Golden Griffins will commence at 1:05 p.m. Both games will be available on ESPN3.

UT, which finished last season with an 8-10-1 mark, boasts 13-7-2 ledger in season-opening matches in program history. Two years ago, the Rockets overcame a 2-0 deficit to pull off a 3-2 double-overtime, season-opening triumph at Detroit Mercy in the debut of head coach TJ Buchholz. 

Toledo returns 15 letterwinners this fall, including nine starters from the 2016 roster. Most notably, senior midfielder Isa Echeverri, a three-time all-league selection, will be the Rockets' top returning offensive threat. Echeverri started 17 matches last fall and finished second on the team in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11).

In addition, the Rockets return all of their defensive starters to the field. Senior Chiara Paradiso and sophomore Sheridan Bufe started every game for a Rockets defense that recorded five shutout wins last season.

Detroit Mercy is coming off an 10-7-2 overall ledger in 2016, including a 6-1-2 mark in the Horizon League. The Titans will be lead by Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year Rachel DeLuca and Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year Marina Manzo. DeLuca and Phylisha Drayton top all returning players with 10 goals last year.

The Titans will be led by Mike Lupenec, the only coach in program history, entering his 25th season at the helm.

Canisius tallied eight wins and nine losses last fall, with a 6-4 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Golden Griffins return a majority of their 2016 roster, including five of their top six goal scorers and leading goalkeeper Alana Rossi.

Canisius will open its season against Youngstown State on Aug. 18 before making its way to the Glass City.

Toledo and Detroit Mercy have split 12 matchups with UT winning the last four meetings. The Rockets discarded the Titans last time they met with a 1-0 win on Sept. 4, 2016. The Midnight Blue and Gold routed Canisius, 8-0 on, Sept. 8, 2002 for the only match between the two programs.

Following this weekend's season-opening matches, the Rockets travel to Michigan on Aug. 27 before taking to the west coast for matchups with UC Riverside (Sept. 1) and UC Irvine (Sept. 3).