EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana women's soccer team opens the 2008 season by hosting an exhibition game against Indiana State University Sunday at Strassweg Field. Match-time is 2 p.m.

The Screaming Eagles hope to start the 2008 season on the right track and make a run at earning a berth in the post season. USI finished last season with a 7-10-1 overall record and a 5-7-1 GLVC mark after struggling with an 0-4-1 start to 2007. The squad bounced back to go 7-6 in the final 13 matches and just missed advancing to the GLVC Tournament.

Beginning her sixth season, Head Coach Krissy Engelbrecht hopes 13 returning players will mesh with 10 newcomers early this season in an effort to thrust the squad back into GLVC title contention.

The Eagles will be without their top returning scorer for the exhibition match. Junior midfielder Shauni Boudia is in Beijing to support her brother who is on the USA diving team. Boudia, who will rejoin the team for the start of the regular season, was the Eagles' top scorer a year ago, recording 13 points on four goals and five assists. She also had one game-winning goal and distributed the game-winning assist in three of USI's victories.

With Boudia absent, USI will look to junior forward Julie Vaughan to pick up the slack. Vaughan was USI's second leading scorer in 2007, posting 10 points on four goals and two assists. Her four goals and two assists were tied for second on the team in each category.

Vaughan's first goal last year was the game-winner in the victory over the University of Indianapolis.

Following the exhibition game with the Sycamores, the Eagles will open the 2008 regular season schedule at Ferris State University on August 29. The first home game for the Eagles will be September 5 when they welcome Urbana University to Strassweg Field.