TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (August 16, 2021) - After a short summer, the nationally-acclaimed Salt Lake Community College women's soccer program will return to the pitch with a strong Fall 2021 schedule.

The Bruins will open the 2021 season on Saturday with a non-conference matchup against Eastern Florida State College at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. SLCC will then travel to Rochester, New York, where the program will play matches at Monroe College and Monroe Community College.

First-year Salt Lake coach Cassie Ulrich said the preseason schedule will provide strong national competition for the Bruins.

"This is the best preseason schedule we've had in program history and these games are going to be immense in preparing the team for the Scenic West Athletic Conference, and our postseason," he said. "We're jumping into the season headfirst, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I know our returners are going to lead with experience and I'm confident that the new players are going to quickly learn what it takes to be competitors at the national level." 

Monroe Community College qualified for the 2021 NJCAA tournament - a tournament that Salt Lake finished runner-up in - while Monroe College has a long history of national success, winning the 2018 NJCAA crown and finishing as runner-up in 2019. The season-opener with Eastern Florida will have special significance, as the Bruins downed EFSC in the NJCAA semifinals to advance to their first-ever NJCAA title match in June.

Salt Lake will open Scenic West Athletic Conference play on the road on September 2, playing at nationally-ranked Snow College. SLCC will play its first home conference match the following week against in-state rival USU Eastern. The Region 18 tournament is scheduled for late October.

Ulrich said competition in the Scenic West Athletic Conference only continues to improve.

"The Scenic West is a tough region; look at last year – us and Snow were both in the national semifinals," she said. "When you look at the rankings, the Scenic West had three teams in the Top-20. Each time we play these guys it's an immense rivalry. The competition will be strong, but I'm very confident in the team we have. We have a seasoned returners and we're adding great talent in our 2021 recruiting class, as well.