FAIRFAX, Va. - With the spring semester quickly approaching, Mason softball has officially released their schedule for the upcoming season.  The year will begin in Conway, South Carolina on February 10^th at the Kickin' Chicken Classic, one of five early season tournaments Mason has scheduled to prepare for conference play.

"Our early season tournaments will definitely challenge our team and prepare us for conference play," said Head Coach Joe Verbanic.  "South Carolina Upstate is a good program, as well as Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Albany and Cornell.  All these teams will provide the right level of competition that we need to be ready.  That's the whole key; we really want to be at the top of our game when it's time for conference play."

Two of Mason's biggest tests in conference will come from Hofstra University and Georgia State University.  The Patriots will travel to Hempstead, N.Y. to face Hofstra on the weekend of April 14-15^th, but will have to wait until the final weekend of the regular season, May 4-5^th, before hosting Georgia State.

"Traditionally Hofstra and Georgia State have been the top two teams in conference," reflected Verbanic.  Today, all the teams in the CAA are improving and it is an all-out battle for those last two spots in the conference tournament.  As a team, we are really focused on getting over that hump and finishing games that we have a chance to put away.  It will be crucial to take advantage of the opportunities we have."

A big key to Mason's success will be the leadership and play of some of the key upperclassmen.  Verbanic and staff will look to senior infielders Rachael Davies and Tori Dudley, along with redshirt junior utility player Alyssa See to carry the team and lead a promising group of underclassmen to help Mason take that next step as a conference championship contender.

"One of the things I am most excited about is seeing the depth of the program begin to fill in," stated Verbanic.  "We have one of the largest senior classes that we have ever had and it's filled with talented starters and returning contributors.  That experience is imperative to our teams' ability to compete at the Division I level."

"We have talented options this season like we have never had before, which will make the competition very tight," said Verbanic.  "I am really excited about the direction this program is going."

Softball will conclude their season with the CAA Conference Championships, which will take place from Wednesday, May 9^th through Friday, May 11^th.