MATCH #2: Texas (0-1) vs. No. 3 Penn State (1-0-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. (Central)
Where: Austin, Texas (Mike A. Myers Stadium; 20,000)
Series (Previous Meeting): First meeting
Petrucelli vs. Penn State: First meeting
PROMOTIONS
Petrucelli's Playground: Fans are invited to the grand opening of Petrucelli's Playground, prior to the start of the Penn State match. The pregame activity is free of charge, features face painting, games, and inflatables, and is located in the northwest corner of Myers Stadium, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Texas Sports Committee Student Tailgate: The Texas Sports Committee Student Tailgate is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., outside Gate 3 (south entrance). Longhorns All-Sports Package holders will enjoy free admission, food and music, compliments of 1300 The Zone Sports Radio.
Team Night: $2 general admission for all coaches and players wearing team jerseys
Fun for Four: Purchase four general admission tickets for $8
UT Spirit Appreciation Night: $2 general admission for all fans in UT apparel
Bevo's Bargains: $1 general admission with Web coupon
MATCH #3: Texas (0-1) vs. No. 13 Illinois (1-1)
When: Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. (Central)
Where: Austin, Texas (Mike A. Myers Stadium; 20,000)
Series (Previous Meeting): First meeting
Petrucelli vs. Illinois: First meeting
PROMOTIONS
Scout Day: $2 general admission for all scouts and troop leaders wearing scout uniform or T-shirt.
FREE GENERAL ADMISSION with Football vs. North Texas ticket or ticket stub!
LONGHORNS UPDATE
· Texas opens its home schedule this weekend with matches against two nationally ranked opponents from the Big Ten Conference ... Both matches mark the first time Texas will face the two programs on the soccer field ... UT's Chris Petrucelli has not faced the Nittany Lions or the Fighting Illini in his 16-year head-coaching career.
· Longhorns sophomore defender Stephanie Logterman will not play in the matches against Penn State and Illinois, as she is playing in Russia with the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team ... The squad advanced to the semifinals after defeating Germany, 4-1, on Sunday, Aug. 27, and will face China on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. (Central) in the semifinal.
· Penn State and Illinois are two of four teams on the 2006 Longhorn schedule ranked in the preseason Top 25 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas Poll ... The Nittany Lions, ranked third in the coaches' poll, are the first and highest of all the ranked teams UT will face in the season ... No. 13 Illinois comes to town on Sept. 3; No. 15 Cal State Fullerton arrives on Sept. 17 and 2005 Big 12 regular season and tournament champion Texas A&M ends the 2006 campaign with the State Farm Lone Star Showdown on Oct. 27 ... The first regular season poll will be released on Sept. 5.
· In the Soccer America poll, published Aug. 28, six UT opponents are ranked in the Top 25 ... Texas A&M is rated fourth, just ahead of No. 4 Penn State, No. 13 Cal State Fullerton, No. 16 Auburn, No. 17 Missouri and No. 19 Nebraska.
· UT opened the season with a 1-0 loss to Auburn at the Auburn Soccer Complex ... It marked just the fourth time a Petrucelli-coached, Texas team has lost season-opener. In each of the four seasons following a first-game defeat, the Longhorns coach has experienced success, guiding his teams to at least 12 wins (at season's end) and one Big 12 Conference Championship (2001).
PENN STATE QUICK FACTS
Head Coach: Paula Wilkins
Nickname: Nittany Lions
Conference: Big Ten
2005 Record: 23-0-2
2005 Conference Record (Finish): 10-0 (1st)
2005 Postseason: College Cup
ILLINOIS QUICK FACTS
Head Coach: Janet Rayfield
Nickname: Fighting Illini
Conference: Big Ten
2005 Record: 12-7-3
2005 Conference Record (Finish): 6-3-1 (4th)
2005 Postseason: Second round
