COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan today released the women's soccer schedule for the 2012 season. The Terps are coming off a 2011 season that saw them earn the program's third-straight NCAA tournament berth and advance to the Sweet 16. This season, Maryland will play 10 teams that qualified for last year's tournament, including home games vs. three Sweet 16 teams in North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia.

"Maryland has always played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and this year's schedule is no different," said Morgan, who is beginning his first year as the Terps' head coach. "The ACC is the most challenging conference in the country with three teams that advanced to the College Cup last season, and a record nine teams that earned bids into the NCAA tournament field. The non-conference schedule is also challenging playing at Ohio State, which was a Sweet 16 team last season, and at Alabama, which was a tournament team. Another aspect that will test our team will be starting with four straight road games."

After home preseason exhibitions against Old Dominion (Aug. 10) and St. John's (Aug. 13), Maryland opens its regular season with Navy on Aug. 17 in Annapolis. A road game at Big East challenger Villanova wraps up the opening weekend on Aug. 19.

The Terps then head to Columbus, Ohio, to play Ohio State on Aug. 26, before playing at regional rival George Mason on Aug. 31.

Maryland plays its home opener on Sept. 2 when it welcomes Towson to Ludwig Field. The Terps then hit the road again, playing at Alabama on Sept. 6. Maryland concludes its early slate of non-conference games with Fordham at home on Sept. 9.

The Terps' ACC schedule starts at home with perennial powerhouse North Carolina on Sept. 13. A home match with Clemson on Sept. 16 closes out the first weekend of conference play.

Maryland then has a road trip through North Carolina that finds the Terps playing at NCAA runner-up Duke on Sept. 20 and at College Cup participant Wake Forest on Sept. 23.

The Terps return home to play Virginia on Sept. 27 before heading to Blacksburg, Va., on Sept. 30 to play Virginia Tech.

Maryland hosts a rare October non-conference game vs. Francis Marion on Oct. 3, but returns to conference play at NC State on Oct. 7. The final regular season road trip has the Terps heading to Boston College on Oct. 11.

Maryland returns to Ludwig Field to close out its 2011 ACC schedule, hosting Miami on Oct. 18 and College Cup participant Florida State for Senior Day on Oct. 21.

The ACC Tournament will be held Oct. 28-Nov. 4. The 2012 NCAA Tournament will begin on Nov. 9, with the first four rounds being held at campus sites. The 2012 Women's College Cup will be played in San Diego on Nov. 30, with the finals scheduled for Dec. 2.