The 2015 Texas A&M University-Commerce women's soccer schedule was released, revealing the path the reigning Lone Star Conference champions must take to defend their title.
The season kicks off with six consecutive out-of-conference matchups, with the first two making up the lengthiest travel the Lions will face this season. Head coach Neil Piper's squad will hop on a plane bound for the Centennial State, where they will take on the Western State Mountaineers and the UC Colorado Springs Mountain Lions over a three day span. The Lions and Mountain Lions squared off in Commerce last season in A&M-Commerce's home opener, with the Lions winning the day 4-1. It will be the first time the Lions and Mountaineers have met on the soccer field. Western State went 6-7-5 in the ultra-competitive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last year, while UC Colorado Springs meanwhile finished 6-11.
After that, the Lions return home for a three-game home-stand, followed by a quick foray to San Antonio to play St. Mary's, whom the Lions beat 4-2 last season. At home, the Lions draw Oklahoma Baptist (15-6-1), Emporia State (7-7-5) and Lubbock Christian (11-6). None of the three have ever met the Lions in soccer before, but it will not be the first time OKBU has made the trip to Commerce. Last season, A&M-Commerce hosted a neutral-site game between the Bison and St. Mary's, where Oklahoma Baptist prevailed 4-3 in a come-from-behind double-overtime win.
Conference-play begins on September 25 with Angelo State at home and conversely ends against ASU on November 1 in the last game of the regular-season. The Rambelles were ranked as high as No. 8 last season, the highest in their school history as they concluded with a 16-5-1 record. After taking the first game in San Angelo 1-0, the Rambelles dropped the next three games to the Lions, all in Commerce. The first came in the regular season, the second in the LSC Tournament's championship game, and the third in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It may very well be said the Lions and Rambelles currently foster the fiercest rivalry in Lone Star Conference history.
The Rambelles will not be the only LSC-opponent for the Lions to contend with, as the Lions' other four LSC opponents will trade home and away contests. Midwestern State came into the LSC Tournament as the fourth-seed, losing to the Lions in the semi-finals by a score of 2-1. They will draw the Lions in Commerce on September 27, before hosting the Lions in Wichita Falls on October 30. Texas Woman's will first get to host the Lions in Denton on October 1 before heading off to Commerce on October 15 to reciprocate. Eastern New Mexico will host the Lions in Portales on October 9 before heading to Commerce on October 25. Rounding things out, the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs will host the Lions in Canyon on October 11 before heading to Commerce just 12 days later.
Rounding things out for A&M-Commerce, two non-conference games will interject into the mix during the conference slate. The first will come on October 6 when the Dallas Baptist Patriots come to Commerce, and after that on October 18, A&M-Commerce will hit the road for Austin to play St. Edward's. The Patriots and Hilltoppers were the cream of the crop in the Heartland conference last season, and will present challenging matchups for the Lions to solve.
Competition begins on September 3.