MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- After making history last year by playing in – and winning – their first-ever post-season game, the Wabash Valley Lady Warriors soccer team is optimistic about the season ahead, the fifth in program history. 

But the 2023 schedule, announced this week, may be the toughest of any to date. The 16-game slate includes four games against national-tournament teams from last year and six against teams that were nationally ranked. 

There are eight home games on the regular-season docket for Patrick Harris' team. 

The campaign begins with two exhibition games, at Greenville on Aug. 21 and at home against Rose-Hulman on Aug. 23. The regular season begins three days later with a home game against East Central, Missouri (3-10-1 last year). 

There are nine games against NJCAA Region 24 schools this year, including a home-and-away series against defending champion Illinois Central (16-1). The home date is Sept. 16. 

The Cougars were ranked 14th in the final Division I poll of the year. Two other ranked Region 24 Division II teams, Heartland (No. 1) and Southwestern (No. 15), also appear on the WVC schedule. 

Perhaps the most grueling portion of the season will come in September, when the Warriors play five straight road games in a 10-day stretch. Included are two games in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, against Spartanburg Methodist, S.C. and Motlow State, Tennessee – both ranked a year ago – and a return trip to Illinois Central. 

Last year, the Lady Warriors finished with a record of 6-8-2, including a finish of 3-1-2.  

Here is the full 2023 Wabash Valley soccer schedule (Home games in bold, last year's record in parentheses): 

Aug. 21 (Mon.) at Greenville, 7:00 p.m., Exhibition 
Aug. 23 (Wed.) vs. Rose-Hulman, 6:30 p.m., Exhibition 
Aug. 26 (Sat.) vs. East Central (3-10-1), 1:00 p.m. 
Aug. 28 (Mon.) at Southwest Tennessee (0-14), 3:00 p.m. 
Sept. 1 (Fri.) vs. Columbia State (8-7-1), 5:00 p.m. 
Sept. 3 (Sun.) at Indian Hills (11-8-1), 12 noon 
Sept. 9 (Sat.) vs. Illinois Central (16-1), 2:00 p.m. 
Sept. 13 (Wed.) at Lewis & Clark (6-9), 4:00 p.m. 
Sept. 17 (Sun.) vs. Spartanburg Methodist* (11-5), 12 noon 
Sept. 18 (Mon.) vs. Motlow State (16-5)*, 12 noon 
Sept. 20 (Wed.) at Lincoln Trail (8-6-1), TBA 
Sept. 23 (Sat.) at Illinois Central (16-1), 2:00 p.m. 
Sept. 27 (Wed.) vs. Lewis & Clark (6-9), 6:00 p.m. 
Sept. 30 (Sat.) vs. Lincoln Land (1-13), 1:00 p.m. 
Oct. 4 (Wed.) vs. Southwestern Illinois (16-8-1), 4:00 p.m. 
Oct. 7 (Sat.) at Heartland (12-3-1), 2:00 p.m. 
Oct. 11 (Wed.) vs. Lincoln Trail (8-6-1), 6:00 p.m. 
Oct. 15 (Sun.) vs. Southwest Tennessee (0-14), TBA 
 

All times CDT *-at Murfreesboro, Tenn.