Aug. 19, 2010

The Baylor soccer team will kick off the 2010 season Friday night with a game against Rice beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Betty Lou Mays Field. The Bears will then host McNeese State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

"We are very excited to be the first team on campus to begin its season," head coach Marci Jobson said. "We have worked very hard in the preseason and I think our fans will have a lot to be excited about."

Baylor, which is 9-4-1 in season-opening games, returns 22 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad which finished the year with an 8-6-5 mark, recording the most wins by the program since an eight-win season in 2002. In addition, BU registered three conference wins, which was the most since 2002, and qualified to the Big 12 Tournament for the first time since 2006.

Offensively, the Bears return 89 percent of their scoring from 2009, including senior Lotto Smith's eight goal and two assist output from a year ago. On the defensive side of the ball, BU returns four defenders with starting experience from a team that allowed just 18 goals and the lowest goals against average (0.88) in program history.

Rice returns 15 letterwinners to this year's squad, including four starters from last season's team that finished 6-10-3. The Bears hold a 2-0-2 all-time advantage against the Owls after the two last played to a 1-1 tie on Aug. 21, 2009 in Houston.

McNeese State, who is coming off a 8-10-2 campaign in 2009, will travel to Waco after opening the season against UL-Lafayette on Friday. Sunday's meeting will be the fourth meeting between the two schools, and the Bears hold a 3-0 advantage. BU defeated the Cowgirls 4-0 in Lake Charles last season.

Friday will be Family Fun Night, as you can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $20.