JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's soccer team opens its 2014 regular season with two new opponents.

"For the women," Carson-Newman head soccer coach Richard Moodie said, "it's time to take on some of the larger teams."

The Eagles head to Florida to face the University of Tampa and St. Leo University in their first two regular season matches.

Tampa defeated both Lenoir-Rhyne and Tusculum 2-0 at the Columbus State tournament last September.

St. Leo advanced to the Sunshine State Conference quarterfinals and finished 10-7 overall.

"We faced some quality opposition in the spring," Coach Moodie said, "and we saw what we wanted, what we expected."

C-N will have three preseason matches against Tennessee Wesleyan, Cumberlands and an inner-squad scrimmage.

"We will have," Coach Moodie said, "three preseason scrimmages and 17 regular season games."

The Lady Eagles will again open conference play against Wingate. C-N suffered a 4-1 loss to Wingate in last year's conference opener; Wingate went on to win the SAC tournament.

Starting Sept. 27, Carson-Newman will have eight consecutive conference matches. The first opponent in line is Brevard whom the Eagles tied 2-2 last season.

"Our goal," Coach Moodie said, "is to perform in the SAC tournament and be knocking at the door of the national tournament. We want to think we can build a team at that level."

After Brevard, the Eagles face Lenoir-Rhyne who finished 2013's regular season top-seeded in the SAC. The Bears' season ended with a penalty kick loss to Belmont Abbey in the regional semifinals.

C-N will look next to face Lincoln Memorial. Last year, the Eagles trounced LMU 3-2 in regular season. LMU went on to defeat L-R 2-0 in the conference tournament semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Wingate in the SAC finals.

The streak of conference matches is ended by a road game at Alabama-Huntsville.

The Eagles will face Anderson for its 2014 senior night. C-N tied the Trojans 1-1 in double overtime last season.

"We have big dreams, big goals," Coach Moodie said, "and we think we've fielded the team that can get us there."