The UT Lady Longhorns open their season this Friday, Aug. 18, with a 7pm exhibition game against UT-San Antonio, at Mike Myers Stadium, off Red River at Manor. The Horns, picked third in the Big 12 in a coach’s poll, could be much better; they return 15 lettermen, including all but one starter, every goal-scorer, and four preseason all-conference players. For those of you who just can’t get enough, preseason practices, also at Myers, are open to the public: 8-10:30am and 8-9:30pm (subject to change), through Aug. 22.
One UT star who’s temporarily on leave is Stephanie Logterman; the Austin native is playing for the U.S. in the Under-20 World Championships this week in Russia, a likely starter in defense. The U.S. opens play today, Aug. 17, in a tough group with Congo, Argentina, and France; if they advance to the finals, Logterman will be gone through Sept. 3 and will miss three games.
Wednesday was the first big day for international games since the World Cup, with some 40 full internationals worldwide, including the first games in qualifying for the 2008 European Championships; full results at “Soccer Watch Online.”
Elsewhere in Europe, Champions League qualifiers will be decided next Tuesday & Wednesday, Aug. 22 & 23, with the second leg of the last qualifying round. And with England’s Premier League season kicking off this weekend, almost all the domestic leagues are now under way. One exception: scandal-besotted Italy, where the opening is delayed until Sept. 16, and it’s not entirely clear what teams are even in the league.
This article appears in August 18 • 2006.