— TABOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS RELEASE —
HILLSBORO, Kan. (TaborBluejays.com) – Tabor College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Thomas Gaskell has released the team’s schedule for his first season at the helm. Coach Gaskell looks to challenge his team with a balanced schedule this year.
The Lady Bluejays kick things off on Mon., Aug. 19th when they will welcome Seward County Community College to Hillsboro and Joel H. Wiens Stadium for a 5 PM scrimmage. The game won’t count against either team’s record as it will just be a tune-up scrimmage. The Saints finished last season with a 1-13-3 record and a 1-13-2 record in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
The season will officially begin on Fri., Aug. 23rd as the College of Saint Mary comes down to Hillsboro from Omaha for a 5 PM match at Joel H. Wiens Stadium. This marks the first meeting between the two programs. The Flames are coming off a 7-6-5 overall record and a 5-4-3 record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Science and Arts will play host to the Lady Bluejays as they head to Chickasha, Okla. on Tue., Aug. 27th for a 5 PM kickoff. The Bluejays played a close game against the Drovers in Hillsboro a season ago but ended up falling in a 1-0 decision. The Drovers finished the season with a 14-6 record and a 7-2 record in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Tabor hits the road again on Sat., Aug. 31st for a match with Bellevue in Papillion, Neb. at 7:30 PM. The Lady Bluejays made the same trip up to Papillon last season but ended up falling to the Bruins 4-0. Bellevue recorded a 12-3-1 record and fell in the Continental Athletic Conference title game to conclude their season.
The Bluejays return home to host Highway 56 foe Central Christian on Sat., Sep. 7th at Joel H. Wiens Stadium at 5 PM. Tabor trounced the Tigers last season in McPherson, 3-0. The Tigers ended their season with an overall record of 1-14-1 and a Sooner Athletic Conference record of 1-8.
Hastings will play host to the Bluejays in their final non-conference game of the season on Sat., Sep. 14th at 5:30 PM. The Broncos won the contest in Hillsboro a season ago. Hastings finished their season with an overall record of 16-3-3 and a Great Plains Athletic Conference record of 9-1-2, ending their season with a loss in the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Round of 16.
Bluejay Soccer heads down Highway 56 that next Wednesday to take on McPherson in a 5 PM kickoff. Tabor gave the Bulldogs all they wanted and sent the Bulldogs back home with their tails between their legs, winning 5-1. McPherson ended their season with a 3-14 record and a 2-11 record in the KCAC.
The Friends Falcons will make the trek north to Hillsboro for the Battle of the Birds on Sat. Sep. 21st. The Bluejays put up a strong fight in the contest played in Wichita last season, but ultimately fell, 2-1. The Falcons posted a record of 13-5-4 and finished with a 10-0-3 record in the KCAC, falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the KCAC Women’s Soccer Championship game and falling in the First Round of the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship tournament.
The Bluejays return home to host Southwestern on Sat., Sep. 28th. Tabor left Winfield with the victory a season ago, winning 2-1. The Moundbuilders finished with a 7-8-4 record a season ago and a KCAC record of 6-4-3, ending their season with a defeat at the hand of Friends in the KCAC Women’s Soccer Quarterfinals.
The Lady Bluejays will continue to enjoy the comforts of home and the comforts of the familiar turf at Joel H. Wiens Stadium, hosting Kansas Wesleyan the following Wednesday. The Coyotes took last year’s contest in Salina by way of a Bluejay own-goal. KWU finished the season with a 10-8-2 overall record and a 7-5-1 KCAC record.
Tabor will make their way down to Springfield, Mo. on Sat., Oct. 5th for the first time since the Evangel Valor joined the KCAC. Kickoff will be at 12 PM. The Lady Bluejays took last season’s contest in Hillsboro, 2-1. Evangel finished their season with a 5-9-4 overall record and a 4-6-3 record in KCAC play.
The Bluejays head over to face rival Sterling in a 1 PM contest that following Wednesday. Tabor won last year’s meeting in Hillsboro and the Bluejays look to repeat that performance on the road this year. The Warriors ended their season with an overall record of 4-14 and a KCAC record of 1-12.
Ottawa comes into town for a match that Saturday at 1 PM. The Braves bested the Bluejays a year ago in Ottawa, 2-1 and ended Tabor’s season in a penalty shootout in the KCAC Women’s Soccer Championships. The Lady Braves recorded a 7-6-7 record and a 7-1-5 record in KCAC play.
Mennonite Rivals meet on Wed., Oct. 16th as Bethel heads up the road to Hillsboro for a heated matchup with the Lady Bluejays at 5 PM. The Lady Bluejays rolled the Threshers back to North Newton with a five-goal barrage that Bethel had no answer for. Bethel finished the season with a 6-11-1 overall record and a 2-10-1 KCAC record.
The Bluejays hit the road again on Sat., Oct. 19th for a 1 PM match with Saint Mary. Last year’s contest ended in a tie. The Spires ended their season last year with an 8-4-5 overall record and a KCAC record of 8-1-4, falling in the KCAC Women’s Soccer Championships to Kansas Wesleyan.
Bethany is set to play host to the Bluejays Wed., Oct. 23rd in Lindsborg. Kickoff will be at 5 PM. The Lady Bluejays sent the Swedes home with a loss in the meeting between the programs a season ago. The Lady Swedes posted a record of 1-15-1 and a conference record of 1-12.
The Bluejays return home to host Avila that Saturday. Tabor spoiled the Eagles’ Senior Day in Kansas City last season and will look to show Avila some Hillsboro hospitality and send them home with a loss. The Eagles finished with a 6-12-1 record overall and a 6-6-1 record in the KCAC.
York comes in for the final game of the Bluejays’ homestand on Wed., Oct. 30th at 5 PM. The Bluejays and Panthers fought to a 1-1 tie a season ago. York posted a 5-7-5 overall record and a 4-4-5 record in KCAC play last season.
The Lady Bluejays head down to Bartlesville, Okla. for their regular season finale against Oklahoma Wesleyan. The game is set for a 5 PM kickoff. OKWU got the best of the Bluejays last season in Hillsboro, 2-0. The Eagles finished their season with a 16-3-3 overall record, an 11-0-2 KCAC record, and fell in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championships First Round after capturing the KCAC Women’s Soccer Championship.
The online schedule is available here and will be updated with links to game notes, broadcasts, live stats, and other gameday information.
A full season preview will be released as the season gets closer.
