The University of Tennessee at Martin soccer team kicks off its regular season this weekend with matches against Cumberland University today at 4 p.m., and Southwest Missouri State University at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Cumberland University’s Lady Bulldogs hail from Lebanon, Tenn. Cumberland is a member of the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA Division I.

The Lady Dogs return with 12 letter winners from the 2002 season. Head coach Bryan Johnson leads the pack at Cumberland University.

Cumberland’s record last year was 9-8-1 in the regular season and 2-3-0 in conference play. The Lady Bulldogs finished fourth in the Mid-South Conference out of five teams in 2002.

UTM returns to the field for regular season play with nine newcomers and 13 returning players. The Skyhawks bring back five juniors and six sophomores.

UTM had a record setting season in 2002, finishing third in the Ohio Valley Conference for the first time in the history of the university. The Skyhawks’ overall record was 9-7-3 and 3-2-1 in the OVC.

The Skyhawks will be facing Cumberland University at the Skyhawk soccer field. This will be the second meeting between the two schools, UT Martin leading the series 1-0.

After a short breather, UTM will return to Skyhawk Field Sunday and play Southwest Missouri State at 1 p.m.

The Bears will be making the trek from Springfield, Mo. This will be their second game of the season.

Southwest Missouri is led by head coach Rob Brewer. In 2002, they completed the season as fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference with an overall record of 8-7-3 and a conference record of 3-2-2.

“Southwest is one of the top teams in the Missouri Valley,” said Skyhawk head coach Nathan Pifer. “We have never beaten them. It will be a strong, hard match for us that will really give us an idea of how much work we need to put in before we begin conference play.

“I think for a young team, the first games are big tests for us,” said Pifer.

“We are trying to learn how to play together. With only one scrimmage under our belts, it’s a big test for the team to see how we come out and play.”