CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) – Austin Peay State University women’s soccer head coach Kelley Guth released the team’s 2017 fall schedule, Wednesday, featuring 11 home contests at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.

The Governors will compete in two exhibitions contests – vs. Indiana State (Aug. 8) and at Western Illinois (Aug. 11) – before the season officially gets underway at Chattanooga, Aug. 18. Austin Peay also sees Middle Tennessee back on the schedule for the first time since 2014, with the two squads scheduled to meet Aug. 20 in Murfreesboro.

APSU opens its home slate with three-straight matches in Clarksville, beginning with Western Kentucky (Aug. 25) and Lipscomb (Aug. 27) on the month’s final weekend. The homestand ends with a Sept. 1 meeting against Georgia State.

After a trip to Alabama A&M on Sept. 3, the Govs will honor its senior class on the weekend of Sept. 8 – first by playing Mississippi Valley State for the first time since 2004, then wrapping up the nonconference schedule with a Sept. 10 match against Arkansas-Little Rock.

“I think it’s a pretty balanced schedule,” Guth said. “Some opponents we’re pretty familiar with and are good regional rivalries. These games will put us to the test and prepare us for the OVC run. I think it’s a favorable travel schedule for us, which will benefit us.”

Ohio Valley Conference play for the Governors begins Sept. 15 at Eastern Kentucky before having back-to-back games on its home pitch. APSU welcomes OVC Tournament champion SIUE to Clarksville on Sept. 22, then challenges Eastern Illinois, Sept. 24. Completing the month is a road trip to Jacksonville State, Sept. 29.

The closing stretch for the Govs features six matches in the month of October, beginning with an away fixture at Tennessee Tech, Oct. 1. Austin Peay then hosts Southeast Missouri (Oct. 6) and UT Martin (Oct. 8) before setting the stage for a rivalry match at Murray State, Oct. 12. Last year, the Govs became one of three teams to earn a point over the Racers in the last two seasons, drawing 0-0 in Clarksville.

“I like that we start with a single-game weekend at EKU, a solid team and frontrunner last year in conference play,” Guth said. “I’m thankful we get to host programs like SIUE and SEMO – tough places to play on turf – at home. We get to go to Murray which will be a great game towards the end of the season.”

The home finale is set for Oct. 22 against Morehead State before capping off the regular season at Belmont, Oct. 26.

“We spread things out a little bit in the OVC this year, so it allows for more rest time between some of the games,” Guth said. “I think that’s going to be a great benefit and in the best interest of the student-athletes – to compete at their best and recover.”