LITTLE ROCK - The UALR soccer team officially has a new facility to call home for the upcoming 2012 season, as the team began its first official day of practice on Wednesday at the new Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex. The new facility, located behind University Village apartments near the intersection of University and Asher Avenues, features a soccer field and eight-lane track with state-of-the-art Polytan synthetic surfacing.

The NCAA-approved facility boasts stadium lights, a scoreboard and a press box with internet capability that will house the UALR media and sports information work areas. The press box is attached to a grandstand providing seating for 300 people, with room for additional seating being left on both sides of the grandstand. A parking lot with more than 130 spaces sits behind the grandstand.

UALR will play its first game at the new facility on Sunday, Aug. 19 against Austin Peay at 1 p.m.

The Trojans finished the 2011 season with a 7-13-0 record, including a 3-8-0 mark in Sun Belt Conference play to finish a game out of qualifying for the season-ending league tournament. UALR lost seven seniors from a year ago, but returns six starters, including four on the defensive side of the ball. Senior goalkeeper Michelle Pittman is set to anchor a back line that surrendered just 1.84 goals per game in 2011, a number that dropped to 1.63 per game in league play. Senior Jenna Brady and sophomores Betsy Blackwood and Kailie Holloway each played heavy minutes for the UALR defensive unit a year ago are expected to see similar roles in 2012.

Offensively, UALR returns 50 percent of its goal scoring from 2011. Sophomore Ariel Galletti tied for the team lead in goals scored (four) and led the team with nine total points. Sophomore Alyson Rohane and juniors Adrianna Queen and Holly Holland each scored two goals in 2011, while Rohane led the team with four assists. Queen led the team with 36 shots on the season and enters her junior campaign sixth on UALR's career list of game-winners (six) and 15^th in goals scored (nine).

The Trojans will play nine games total this season at their new facility. UALR kicks off its 18-game regular-season slate on Friday, Aug. 17 in Springfield, Mo., against Missouri State. The Trojans will also play an exhibition contest at Lyon College on Monday, Aug. 13.