CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College women's soccer team and head coach Brian Purcell announced that the Blue Hose will play 18 matches in 2012, including eight at Martin Stadium, in releasing the upcoming season schedule today.

"We have a competitive schedule and we're excited for the 2012 season," Purcell said. "We always look forward to meeting our local rivals like Wofford, Clemson, Furman and USC Upstate and feel this year's non-conference matches prepare us well for a challenging Big South Conference season."

After a home preseason scrimmage against South Carolina State on Tuesday, August 14, the 2012 season kicks off with a four-match road stretch that begins at Francis Marion on Tuesday, August 21. The Blue Hose will look to avenge a narrow 3-2 loss at the hands of the Patriots last season. PC then travels to East Tennessee State on Friday, August 24 for the team's first-ever regular season meeting against the Buccaneers. The two sides tangled last year at Martin Stadium in a preseason scrimmage.

The Blue Hose head to Clemson for an afternoon contest on Sunday, August 26, before wrapping up the road trip at Wofford on Thursday, August 30.

PC comes back to Laurens County to open up the home portion of the 2012 season with a Sunday night matchup against the Furman Paladins on September 2. Jacksonville then visits Martin Stadium on Thursday, September 6, in the teams' first meeting since the Dolphins took a 4-2 contest in Florida on August 31, 2007.

The Blue Hose hit the road for their next three matches, first taking the short trip to USC Upstate to wrap up non-conference play on Sunday, September 16. PC shut out the Spartans at home last season, 2-0, grabbing the squad's first win of 2011.

Big South Conference play begins on Thursday, September 20, with a road trip to Liberty. The Blue Hose then play the league's newest member, Longwood, on Saturday, September 22.  The two squads have yet to meet in Division I play.

PC returns home to host a pair of Virginia schools, beginning with a Thursday, September 27 contest against the defending Big South champion Radford Highlanders. The Blue Hose then face VMI on Saturday, September 29, looking to settle last year's 2-2 tie in Lexington.

The Blue Hose head to High Point for a Thursday, October 4 meeting against the Panthers. When High Point visited Martin Stadium in 2011, PC shut out the visitors in a 1-0 season-ending victory. Following this year's contest, the Blue Hose travel to Campbell for a Saturday, October 6 night matchup.

Charleston Southern visits PC on Thursday, October 11, before PC plays its final road contest of the season two days later at Coastal Carolina. The Blue Hose handed the Chanticleers a 2-1 loss on Homecoming last season.

Three home contests round out the regular season for the Blue Hose. Winthrop comes to Clinton first, battling PC on Thursday, October 18, before Gardner-Webb comes to town on Saturday, October 20.

The regular season comes to a close with a matchup against UNC Asheville on Tuesday, October 23. The Big South Tournament then begins on Saturday, October 27 at campus sites.