AMHERST, Mass. - UMass field hockey head coach Justine Sowry has released the Minutewomen's 2008 schedule. The defending Atlantic 10 champions have 19 games scheduled, 12 of which will be home games played at Garber Field. UMass' challenging schedule includes seven teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in last season's final NFHCA poll.

The Minutewomen will open the season on August 29 at Boston College, who finished last season ranked 16th in the country. The home-opener at Garber Field will come two days later on Sunday, August 31 when they take on Quinnipiac at noon.

After two road games at Dartmouth and Northeastern, UMass will return home for seven of its next eight games. Included in those home games is a rematch of the 2007 NCAA first round game vs. UConn. That game is slated for September 12 at 6 p.m. Other home dates include: Harvard, Vermont, Albany, Syracuse, Siena, and Georgetown.

The Atlantic 10 conference schedule kicks off on October 10 when the Minutewomen travel to rival Richmond in a match-up of the last 10 A-10 Championship winners. The conference home dates are against Saint Louis, Saint Joseph's, and Temple. The Saint Joseph's game will be a rematch of the 2007 A-10 Championship, while Temple was the team UMass finished tied with for the regular season title a year ago. The noon contest on October 26 against the Owls will be Senior Day at Garber Field.

The 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship will be held at Temple University on November 7 and 8.