MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University opens its 2008 women's soccer season tonight at 7 at Dlesk Stadium against Towson. The Mountaineers are ranked 12th in the preseason national coaches' poll.

Tonight's game marks just the fourth time the Mountaineers have opened a season at home. WVU is seeking its ninth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and is coming off the school's first appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2007.

For the second straight season, WVU was chosen to win the Big East Conference's American Division title. The Mountaineers garnered nine of the 15 first-place votes in voting done by the league's 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players or teams.

The Mountaineers boast four all-conference preseason selections, more than any other team in the league, in seniors Amanda Cicchini, Greer Barnes and Deana Everrett and junior Carolyn Blank.