The University of Delaware women’s soccer team has announced its 2016 schedule, with the Blue Hens playing eight home matches at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.

UD, which finished last season 8-9-2 overall and qualified for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship tournament, will begin the season with three road games against Villanova on Aug. 19, Syracuse on Aug. 21 and Georgetown on Aug. 26. Georgetown will present an early test for UD, as the Hoyas advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year.

UD, which is led by 27th-year head coach Scott Grzenda, will then face Saint Joseph’s in its home opener on Aug. 28, before hosting Princeton on Sept. 2 and Loyola on Sept. 4. Princeton will prove to be another difficult game that will prepare the Blue Hens for their difficult conference schedule, as the Tigers advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015.

UD will travel to George Washington on Sept. 8 before returning home to face Penn on Sept. 11, and then will travel to Stony Brook on Sept. 16 for its final nonconference game of the season.

The Blue Hens open CAA play with two home matches against Northeastern on Sept. 23 and Hofstra, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round last year, on Sept. 25.

UD will travel to Towson on Sept. 30 and reigning CAA champion James Madison on Oct. 2. The Blue Hens will play their final two regular season home games of the season against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round last year, on Oct. 7 and the College of Charleston on Oct. 9.

UD will wrap up its regular season with three road games against 2015 CAA finalist and NCAA Tournament participant William and Mary on Oct. 14, Elon on Oct. 16, and Drexel on Oct. 23.

The CAA Tournament will begin with first round play at the higher seed’s home field on Oct. 30, prior to the semifinals on Nov. 4 and the championship match on Nov. 6. The semifinals and final will occur at the home of the conference regular season champion.

The Blue Hens will return every goal scorer from last season, including senior Natalie Zelenky, who scored 11 of UD’s 25 goals during the year, earning second team All-CAA and third team NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honors.

Sophomore Riley Curtin enjoyed a tremendous freshman campaign, as she was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team after leading the Blue Hens and tying for ninth in the conference with five assists.

Junior Krista Trinidad, who finished with three goals and an assist a year ago, also returns for UD, while junior Kailyn Rekos is back in the Blue Hen goal after ranking third in the CAA with 4.38 saves per game and tied for fifth with five shutouts during the 2015 campaign.