CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel will open the 2015 season with two non-conference road games against UNC Asheville on Friday followed by USC-Upstate on Sunday.
 
The Citadel comes in to the game against the fellow Bulldogs of UNCA after hosting Georgia Southern in its lone exhibition game. This will be only the second matchup between the two schools with UNCA taking the first game in 2001.
 
UNC Asheville boasts a young squad for the 2015 campaign with only five upperclassman on the roster. UNCA, who went 10-9-1 in 2014, heads in to Friday's game after a 1-0 victory over Wofford in their exhibition game. Sophomore Caroline Houser, the leader in goals scored last season with six, returns for the Bulldogs. Houser also led the team in shots on goal with 37.
 
The Spartans of USC-Upstate return 18 from last year's 3-13-1 squad including senior Kenzie Major who led the team in goals with seven. Senior goalkeeper Ellen Bright, who posted a save percentage of .741 last season, returns for the Spartans as well.
 
The Spartans dropped two exhibition games to Campbell and Winthrop, respectively, and will host ETSU on Friday before squaring off with The Citadel. The Bulldogs hold a 3-1 overall record against USC-Upstate with the most recent win coming last season.  
 
"We are looking forward to these two games this weekend. Both UNCA and USC-Upstate will be quality opponents for us to start the season," head coach Bob Winch said. "It will be important for our young players to experience the speed of division one soccer and to develop good competitive habits in their play."
 
The Bulldogs will take on UNCA at 7 p.m. at Greenwood Field and then travel to County University Stadium to take on USC-Upstate at 2 p.m. Live stats for both contests will be available on CitadelSports.com.
 
For more information on The Citadel women's soccer, follow @CitadelWSoccer or visit CitadelSports.com.