University of North Carolina Athletics
A Look At The Non-Conference Schedule
January 2, 2015 | Softball
The Tar Heels' 2015 non-conference schedule features matchups against seven schools that appeared in the 2014 NCAA Softball Tournament.
Carolina opens its season in Tempe, Arizona in the Kajikawa Classic, taking on Northwestern, Stanford, Nevada, Oregon, and Bradley from February 6-8. Northwestern, Oregon, and Bradley appeared in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, with Oregon advancing to the College World Series.
“Going to some tournaments early is very helpful to us, to be able to face the caliber of teams like a Northwestern, a Stanford, an Oregon, who are typically your PAC-12 Big 10 teams that have done really well whether it be postseason or in their conference” said Papa. “It is a great way for us to open and see where we are. “
UNC will open at home on Wednesday, February 11 when they face off with Western Carolina at Anderson Stadium.
They will then travel to Columbia, South Carolina for the Gamecock Invitational where they will clash with Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Presbyterian and host South Carolina from February 13-15.
UNC will host two tournaments this season with the Tar Heel Invitational taking place from February 20-22 and the Carolina Classic from March 5- 8. The Tar Heel Invitational features contests against Fairleigh Dickinson, Lehigh, Radford and Campbell. The Carolina Classic will see the Tar Heels take on 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Texas as well as Ohio University and UNC Charlotte and will cap off a string of 14 straight games played at home in Anderson Stadium.
“We are a very strong team at home, it's nice to play in those confines” remarked the head coach of the Tar Heels.
Highlighting the rest of the non-conference schedule are mid-week matchups at USC Upstate and at home against Coastal Carolina, and James Madison. All three teams appeared in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
When examining her squad's schedule, Coach Papa likes the competition that her team will face.
“There are no easy parts of our schedule other than we're able to be home a lot more, there are no easy games; I don't think you consider anybody that way” said the Hall of Fame coach. “We want to be tested and if we can test ourselves game in and game out and prepare like we need to for postseason, both the ACC and NCAA tournaments, that's what I want to do when I build our schedule. “
