Gwinnett Daily Post

Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies

Georgia Gwinnett College released its first women's soccer schedule, front-loaded with home games, on Thursday.

The Grizzlies' play the first-ever athletic competition in school history Aug. 25 with a 1 p.m. match vs. Tennessee Temple. It precedes a men's match with Tennessee Temple and kicks off a run of six home dates in the season's first seven games.

GGC also will host a women's scrimmage Aug. 22 against a yet to be determined opponent. It follows an Aug. 16 scrimmage at Emmanuel College.

"Our 2012 schedule will offer the opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the Southeast," GGC women's head coach Domenic Martelli said. "Our NAIA opponents have had much success in recent years. Of the 13 NAIA teams scheduled, two were ranked in the top 25 nationally and five other teams finished in the RPI top 100.

"We want to have a winning record as one of our overall season goals. Our staff and players will be working on the total program by establishing our playing style, a positive culture and traditions within a family environment that will lead to success and future championships."

GGC's early-season slate also includes home games with Northwood University (Aug. 26), Bluefield College (Sept. 3), Huntingdon College (Sept. 8), Truett-McConnell (Sept. 12) and Georgia Southwestern (Sept. 15). The Grizzlies then have just three home dates in their last 11 games -- Sept. 29 vs. Bob Jones, Oct. 9 vs. Young Harris and Nov. 3 vs. Hiwassee.

The inaugural season will begin at GGC's lighted intramural fields until the soccer teams transition to the $13.5 million, varsity athletics complex that includes a synthetic turf field, which may be ready later this year.

Here's a look at the full GGC women's soccer schedule:

DATE OPPONENT TIME

Aug. 16 at Emmanuel 7 p.m.

Aug. 22 Home scrimmage, TBA 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 Tennessee Temple 1 p.m.

Aug. 26 Northwood 2 p.m.

Sept. 1 at Brenau 1 p.m.

Sept. 3 Bluefield 11 a.m.

Sept. 8 Huntingdon 3 p.m.

Sept. 12 Truett-McConnell 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 Georgia SW 5 p.m.

Sept. 21 at SCAD 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 at Palm Beach Atlantic 1 p.m.

Sept. 29 Bob Jones 2 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Montreat 2 p.m.

Oct. 9 Young Harris 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Reinhardt 2 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Toccoa Falls 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Virginia Intermont 1 p.m.

Oct. 21 at Clayton State 4 p.m.

Oct. 27 at Thomas University 1 p.m.

Nov. 3 Hiwassee 2 p.m.