The University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team opens its third season of competition with a pair of non-conference contests this weekend, hosting Johnson & Wales (Fla.) on Friday and West Virginia Tech on Saturday at Fin Land Field. The Sand Sharks begin the 2013 campaign looking to build on last year's impressive performance, as they increased their win total from one in their inaugural 2011 season to a 9-10 mark and a berth in the Sun Conference Tournament in 2012. 

The season-opener pits USCB against a familiar foe, as Sun Conference rivals Johnson & Wales travel to Bluffton for a non-conference match. The Sand Sharks blanked the Wildcats 3-0 a year ago, evening the all-time series at a game apiece. The matchup with West Virginia Tech will be the first meeting for the programs.

KICKING OFF

Date: Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24

Time: 3 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday 

Location: Fin Land Field, USCB Hilton Head Gateway Campus

Series: Tied 1-1, USCB leads 1-0 at home

2012 Results: USCB won 3-0

LIVE COVERAGE

Streaming video: Stretch Internet (subscription required)

Live stats: Stretch Internet (free)

ABOUT JOHNSON & WALES

The Wildcats enter their fourth season under coach Eric Dobrzanski and are coming off an 8-8 season in 2012. Johnson & Wales returns nine starters off last year's squad, including top point scorer Allison Radford (15 points) and leading goal scorer Deana Garbarino (7 goals). 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA TECH

The Golden Bears are beginning their third season under coach Kelly Borck and coming off a 3-14 campaign. West Virginia Tech returns four dstarters from last season, including junior forward Creshana Jones, who led the team in goals (5) and points (11) a year ago.

SAND SHARK BITES

• Only two NAIA teams saw larger increases in wins from 2011 to 2012 than USCB's eight-win bump — Viterbo (Wis.) won 13 more games than the previous year and Cumberland (Tenn.) increased its win total by nine.

• The Sand Sharks have only one senior — midfielder Sinéad Byrne — and five juniors among the 29 players on the roster.

• USCB returns eight players who started nine or more games a year ago, including All-Sun Conference Honorable Mention goalkeeper Chelsie Mummert, leading point-scorer Jessica Tooley (10 points) and two of the three players who tied for the team lead with four goals (Steph Moldenhauer and Olivia Dizon).

• USCB's roster includes 14 players from South Carolina, four from Georgia, two each from North Carolina and Florida, two each from England and Canada, and one each from Michigan, Kentucky and New Jersey. 

• The Sand Sharks have eight players listed at 5-foot-8 or taller, up from five last year. 

RELATED LINKS

USCB Soccer Media Guide

USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook

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