ATLANTA--The Georgia State women's soccer team begins a new era under first-year head coach Derek Leader with a road match at Auburn on Aug. 17 to open the 2012 fall schedule, announced on Tuesday.

The matchup against the Tigers, who finished No. 18 in the RPI standings and were a top 16 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, is an early highlight of the 2012 Georgia State schedule. The Panthers' home opener at Panthersville is the following game, a 2 p.m. contest vs. Jacksonville State on Sunday, Aug. 19. Admission to all Georgia State soccer matches is free for fans.

GSU battles three teams that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament in Auburn, UT Martin and William & Mary. The Panthers host UT Martin on Sept. 14 (7 p.m.) and also host conference-rival William & Mary on Oct. 7 (1 p.m.).

Georgia State continues two local rivalries against Kennesaw State and Mercer during its non-conference portion of the schedule. The Panthers take the short trip up north to battle the Owls on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. for their first match at the new KSU Stadium, the host of the 2011 Women's College Cup. GSU hosts Mercer at Panthersville on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. to renew the local rivalry for the 22^nd time, the longest-running series in GSU women's soccer history.

Georgia State's first Colonial Athletic Association match is a Sept. 21 road contest at Northeastern (6 p.m.). The Panthers host Delaware in their first home CAA tilt on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.

GSU opens play in the fall with an exhibition match at Samford, a NCAA Tournament team last season, on Aug. 10 (6 p.m.).

Visit the women's soccer page on www.GeorgiaStateSports.com for all the latest news as the team prepares for the 2012 fall season.

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