The USCB women’s soccer team will open its season at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, when the Sand Sharks travel to NCAA Division I USC Upstate. It will be the first meeting between the Sand Sharks and the Spartans.

The Sand Sharks have opened the season on the road twice since the program's inception in 2011, having won both contests.

USCB will be looking to lean on the leadership of sophomore Allison Schaffer and seniors Brittney Neser and Melissa Fichtner to get off to a strong start to the 2018 season. All three were prominent members of a strong back line last season that held opponents to a program-low 118 shots on goal over the season.

Interim head coach Jay Harris will be taking the Sand Sharks to the upstate for what will be his first collegiate game as a head coach.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

“We know there will not be a much tougher challenge than going to face a good Division I team to start our year,” Harris said. “The team has prepared well over the last couple of weeks, and we are excited to finally get the season started."

USC Upstate is led by junior midfielder Abbie Ellis, who posted six goals and three assists a year ago. In goal, the Spartans return Samantha Munyon, who saw 360 minutes of action across four matches in the 2017 campaign and held a 0.25 goals-against average while making 16 saves.