FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona women's soccer looks for its third consecutive Big Sky Conference Championship after releasing its schedule for the 2010 season on Friday.  The Lumberjacks play a total of 17 games with eight home dates opening the year at home against Arizona State on August 20.

“We are excited for the opportunity to play the schedule we have in 2010 as we prepare for our quest for a third conference title,” said head coach Andre Luciano.  “The hope is that these games prepare us not only for an opportunity to compete in conference but to put us in a better position if a tournament bid arises.”

NAU plays a 10-game non-conference schedule that includes six teams with non-losing seasons in 2009 and three teams with double digit wins.  The Lumberjacks play two NCAA tournament teams in USC and Arizona State along with three first-time opponents.

“I don't believe we have played three Pac-10 and two West Coast Conference teams in one season,” Luciano said.  “We have the opportunity to play technically and tactically strong teams who are well coached.  The caliber of teams we face will boost our non-conference RPI and visibility on the West Coast.”

The Lumberjacks won their second-consecutive Big Sky Championship and made a return trip to the NCAA Women's College Cup in 2009. NAU finished fourth in the Big Sky regular season standings and defeated Portland State and Idaho State in the Big Sky Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament, where they faced No. 1 Stanford in the opening round.

NAU finished the season with a 10-9-2 record and had eight players earn All-Big Sky honors.

2010 NAU Lumberjacks Women's Soccer Schedule

DID YOU KNOW… The Lumberjacks had 11 of their 15 intercollegiate teams record a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher led by women's soccer at 3.42. Women's basketball was close behind at 3.38, followed by women's cross country (3.38), volleyball (3.33), women's golf (3.31), men's cross country (3.26) and swimming and diving (3.22).