GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay women's soccer program will host nine games as part of an 18-game 2011 schedule, head coach Trevor Warren announced on Tuesday. The Phoenix will open its 2011 slate of games on campus, hosting Nebraska-Omaha on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Santaga Stadium.

"I really like that our schedule has a nice balance to it this year," Warren said. "We didn't have a lot of home games last season, which can be tough, but now there's a good balance with an even number of home games and away games, which our players really like as well."

The Phoenix will hit the road after its opener to play at Drake on Aug. 21 before returning home to welcome the Big XII's Iowa State to Green Bay on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

"One of the highlights of the home schedule is definitely Iowa State," Warren said. "We played them two years ago down there and lost a very close 2-1 game. I think it's going to be an exciting contest and a good test for our women."

That weekend's schedule also includes another opponent from a major conference as Warren's squad will play at Wisconsin on Sunday, Aug. 28.

"Coach (Paula) Wilkins has really developed Wisconsin into a top Big Ten team," Warren said. "They finished near the top of the conference and made the NCAA Tournament last year, so they will be a very tough test for us. I know our players get up for games against Wisconsin and really enjoy the atmosphere."

The Phoenix has played strong against the in-state rival Badgers in Warren's time at Green Bay, dropping a pair of hard-fought, 1-0 decisions on the road, including an overtime contest in 2009. Last season's meeting in Green Bay was canceled due to weather.

The next four games on the Phoenix schedule will be battles with the Dakotas as Green Bay will play South Dakota, North Dakota, North Dakota State and South Dakota in consecutive contests. A trip to South Dakota (Aug. 31) ends the month of August and September opens with home games against North Dakota (Sept. 2) and NDSU (Sept. 4) before visiting South Dakota State (Sept. 9).

Season tickets and Fall Sports Passes are now on sale for women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball. Season tickets for each sport are available for $25 each, or a Fall Sports Pass can be purchased for admission to all three sports for just $50 for an adult and $25 for a youth pass. For more information and an order form, click here.

A non-conference trip to Northern Iowa (Sept. 11) precedes the Horizon League opener on Sept. 16 at Valparaiso. The Phoenix returns home at Sunday, Sept. 18 to close its non-conference schedule against Western Illinois.

The last seven games of the regular season will be in league play, beginning with a home Alumni Weekend contest against Cleveland State on Sept. 25, which coincides with the men's team's Alumni Weekend game.

Green Bay visits Detroit (Oct. 1) to begin October before playing Loyola (Oct. 5) and Wright State (Oct. 9) at Santaga Stadium. The Phoenix will then play at Youngstown State (Oct. 15) before closing its home schedule with Senior Day on Oct. 23 against Butler.

The regular season concludes with a trip to the defending Horizon League champions from Milwaukee on Oct. 28.

"I like the way our Horizon League schedule shapes up," Warren said. "Our goal is to get to the conference championship game and with the experienced players we have coming back and the talented freshmen we have coming in, I think we can be competitive with anyone in the conference."

Green Bay will gear up for the 2011 campaign with an exhibition contest against Illinois State on Aug. 10, at Santaga Stadium.

To view the full schedule, click here.