MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama soccer coach Mike Varga announced the Jags' 2010 regular season schedule Wednesday afternoon. The 20-game schedule includes nine home matches and three Southeastern Conference opponents.

"It is important for us to get off to a good start to build our confidence," Jaguar head coach Mike Varga said. "We will have our work cut out for us playing a non-conference schedule that features three SEC teams, but with the players we have, I have no doubt that we will be able to compete with anyone we play."

USA opens the season Fri., Aug. 20, at Jackson State followed by a road contest against LSU (Aug. 22). The Jags host Alabama State in the home opener Fri., Aug. 27, followed by contests against Mississippi State (Sept. 3) and Austin Peay (Sept. 5) in the Troy Tournament.

The Jaguars host the Port City Classic Sept. 10-12, which features Georgia State, Sam Houston and Troy. USA will take on Sam Houston on Fri., Sept. 10, and close the tournament with a Sept. 12 matchup against Georgia State.

South Alabama travels to Kentucky to close out its non-conference schedule with a pair of road matches. The Jags will take on Morehead State Sept. 17 in Morehead, Ky. and will close out its non-conference schedule against Kentucky Sept. 19 in Lexington, Ky.

Sun Belt Conference play begins with two road games at Louisiana-Lafayette (Sept. 24) and Louisiana-Monroe (Sept. 26).

USA then hosts its next four matches, with contests against Florida Atlantic (Oct. 1), Florida International (Oct. 3), Denver (Oct. 8) and North Texas (Oct. 10).  

The Jags travel to Arkansas State for an Oct. 15 matchup, and close the weekend with an Oct. 17 match against UALR.

South Alabama will return home to host Middle Tennessee on Oct. 21, before traveling to Western Kentucky for their final regular season road game on Oct. 24.

The Jags close the season with an Oct. 29 matchup with Troy at The Cage.

"Soccer in the Sun Belt Conference has gotten much better from top to bottom over the past few years, Vargas Said. " With that in mind, it is important to schedule teams that prepare us for league play.  Once again, we have a demanding non-conference schedule that should prepare us for the rigors of playing in the Sun Belt.  With 18 incoming freshman added to the roster, we have a young team, but we will be talented at every position and deeper than we have been in recent years."

The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be held Nov. 3-6 in Bowling Green, Ky.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-