UTB/TSC hopes to end the 2010 men's soccer season with a fourth straight Red River Athletic Conference championship, but will begin the new season with seven games away from home.

The Scorpions open the 18-game season with two games in Hattiesburg, Miss. against Belhaven University (Miss.) August 27 and  Mid-Continent University (Ky.) on August 28. UTB/TSC plays its first home game Sept. 25 against University of St. Thomas. Full Schedule

UTB/TSC won its third straight Red River Athletic Conference championship last year, was ranked No. 15 in the nation, and finished the season as the only undefeated team in the NAIA with a 17-0-2 record.

Belhaven was one of two teams the Scorpions did not defeat in a 17-0-2 season in 2009. The two teams tied, 3-3, at a neutral site. Belhaven finished the season with a 10-4-2 record and a No. 23 ranking in the nation.

On Sept. 4 in Houston, UTB/TSC faces William Carey University (Miss.), which finished last year as the No. 9 team in the nation with a 13-4-3 record.

"It's a tough start for the season, with some very difficult road games," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said. "The goal every year is to challenge the guys against the best competition in the country. It is the only way to prepare for the tough conference schedule and the national tournament."

By the time the season is over, Balaguero is expecting 4-6 opponents to be ranked in the Top 25.

The Houston trip Sept 4-5 also features a game against University of St. Thomas Sept. 5. The Scorpions then take a trip to Oklahoma for games against Oklahoma Christian University and Southern Nazarene University. The road game against soccer newcomer University of Houston-Victoria Sept. 22 ends the seven-game road streak.

UTB/TSC then plays five straight home games at REK Center Field, the home opener Sept. 25 against UST, the RRAC opener Oct. 2 against Our Lady of the Lake University, followed by two conference home games. The Scorpions play their first three conference games at home.

Perhaps the Scorpions' biggest test at home will come from the University of Mobile, which will be visiting UTB/TSC for the first time. The Scorpions have played in Mobile twice -- in the 2008 National Championship Opening Round, where they lost 3-0; and in the 2009 regular season, where they won, 1-0.

"Certainly, we like to bring great teams to Brownsville, and I think we've done that," Balaguero said. "We look forward to our continued rivalry with Mobile and St. Thomas."

Mobile won the 2002 NAIA national championship and has been to the NAIA National Tournament five times this decade.

Following the UM game which ends a stretch of five straight home games, the Scorpions finish the season with six conference games, four on the road. The second-to-last game of the season will be at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, the newest member of the RRAC.

"The conference games will always will be tough, and we are glad to have five of the nine games as well as the tourney at home," Balaguero said.

For the first time in school history, UTB/TSC will host the RRAC Tournament, which will be held Nov. 4-6 at REK Center Field.