ASHLAND, Ore. – The Southern Oregon University women's soccer team is still set to make its debut on Wednesday. Just an hour later than originally planned.

SOU's fall sports season will begin in earnest at noon Wednesday when the Raiders take on the Holy Names Hawks at University Field in search of their third straight season-opening win.

The Raiders, who were picked to finish third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference's preseason poll, have picked on the Hawks the last two years with wins of 4-0 and 5-2. They lead the all-time series, 4-1-1.

Senior Alyssa Bricker (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) will head the Raider defense following a 2012 performance that landed her on the all-CCC's first team. Senior forward Sydney Paulsen (Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley), a second-team selection, and junior forward Julie Zamzow (Boise, Idaho/Bishop Kelly), who scored five goals last season, will lead the charge on the other end of the field.

The Raiders went 9-6-3 in 2012. Holy Names, which is located in Oakland, Calif., went 1-16-1.

The Hawks will remain in Ashland to play two more CCC teams this week – Friday against Concordia and Saturday against Oregon Tech. Both games are scheduled for noon starts. 

2013 SOU WOMEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW