WAVERLY - T.J. Buchholz didn't sit back and mope after the selection committee left his 17-2-2 women's soccer team out of last year's NCAA Tournament.

Instead, the Wartburg College head coach made sure his men's and women's teams would be given an ample opportunity to complete for an automatic NCAA Tournament berth in 2009.

"According to the committee, our strength of schedule wasn't tough enough," said Buchholz, who is entering his second season at Wartburg. "We took that as a charge to us to make it tougher."

Wartburg's women were denied an automatic tournament bid when they lost in a penalty kick shootout to Loras in last year's Iowa Conference tournament finals. This season, they will face a non-conference schedule that includes returning national qualifiers Wisconsin-Eau Claire and St. Thomas. The men, who have made seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, will face returning Sweet 16 programs in two of their first three matches.

"We want to show that we did everything possible to play the best (competition) out there," Buchholz said. "We can't always get them to come here, either, but that's OK. We're going to come find them where they're at, and we're up to that task and challenge."

The increased level of non-conference competition has generated a sense of urgency to each team's preseason workouts.

"We still kind of have that bitter feeling about last year's (conference finals) loss, and you can see the intensity step up a level," sophomore Chelsea Frye said. "We're challenging each other 100 percent every day in practice."

Frye, a Waverly native, became an impact player as a freshman on last year's team and is the top returning scorer with 15 goals from a year ago. She'll be called on to help fill a void of offense left by two-time Iowa Conference player the year Rachel Oswald.

"Chelsea had the opportunity to play with one of the best players I've ever coached in Rachel and really see what it takes to be a successful player at the college level," Buchholz said. "I think she has the potential to really have a special season this year as a sophomore."

On the men's side, Wartburg will put its faith in third-team All-America goalkeeper Trent Michael and a defensive unit that recorded nine shutouts a year ago.

"So far he looks like he could be first-team All-American in the practices with what he's doing," Buchholz said.

Michael credits much of his success to the defenders in front of him.

"Last year that defense was so solid," he said. "I don't think they get the recognition they need. That's the same way this year. If I want to do as well as I did (last season) it's going to be because of the four guys in front as well as the midfield."

HEAD COACH - T.J. Buchholz, first year

2007 RECORDS - Men, 15-7-0; Women, 17-2-2

TOP MEN'S RETURNERS (8) - Geoff Miller, Nate Hedrington, Trent Michael, Eric Ruggles, Matt Haager, Luke Prater, Eric Peters, Kyle McKenna

TOP WOMEN'S RETURNERS (10) - Chelsea Frye, Katy Wendt, Lauren Thomas, Annie Fangman, Logan Webb, Jess Macauley, McKenzie Moore, Kelsey Kovacevich, Kari Krolikowski, Christina Ernst.

2009 schedule

Sept. 1 - at Carleton (M&W)

Sept. 5 - at Augsburg (M)

Sept. 5 - at St. Thomas (W)

Sept. 6 - at Macalester (M&W)

Sept. 11 - St. John's (M)

Sept. 11 - College of St. Benedict's (W)

Sept. 13 - at UW-Whitewater (M&W)

Sept. 16 - at Grand View (M&W)

Sept. 23 - St. Olaf (M&W)

Sept. 26 - Simpson (M&W)

Sept. 30 - Grinnell (W)

Oct. 1 - at Upper Iowa (M)

Oct. 3 - at U of Dubuque (M&W)

Oct. 6 - UW-LaCrosse (W)

Oct. 7 - Buena Vista (M&W)

Oct. 10 - at Central (M&W)

Oct. 11 - UW-Eau Claire (W)

Oct. 14 - Cornell (M&W)

Oct. 17 - at Loras (M&W)

Oct. 21 - at Coe (M&W)

Oct. 24 - Luther (M&W)

Oct. 25 - Dominican (M)

Oct. 28 - at Grinnell (M)

Luther

Second-year head coach Chris Garcia-Prats returns 10 starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's 8-10-2 men's team that tied for sixth in the Iowa Conference.

The Norse return four of their top five scorers and were picked to finish fourth in the Iowa Conference this season. All-conference senior forward Adam Pyzdrowski leads Luther's attack after recording 12 goals and three assists last season.

On the women's side, second-year head coach Kim Fair returns eight starters and 19 letterwinners from a year ago. The Norse were projected to finish third in the Iowa Conference.

Dani Meirick is the top returning goal-scorer and led the team with nine assists last season. First-team all-conference midfielder Anna Grinde also provides plenty of leadership.

HEAD COACHES - Men, Chris Garcia-Prats; Women, Kim Fair

2008 RECORDS - Men, 8-10-2; Women, 11-7-2

TOP MEN'S RETURNERS (4) - Adam Pyzdrowski, James Laroque, Alex Case, Jake Kessler

TOP WOMEN'S RETURNERS (5) - Dani Meirick, Kelsey Balk, Anna Grinde, Ashley Meirick, Paige Ofstedahl

2009 schedule

Sept. 1 - at Macalester (M&W)

Sept. 4 - at Wheaton (M)

Sept. 5-6 - Luther Classic (W)

Sept. 5 - Judson (at Wheaton) (M)

Sept. 9 - at St. Olaf (M&W)

Sept. 11 - Upper Iowa (M)

Sept. 12 - at Concordia-St. Paul (W)

Sept. 16 - at Viterbo (W)

Sept. 19 - Bethel (M)

Sept. 20 - Carleton (M)

Sept. 22 - at St. Ambrose (W)

Sept. 26 - U of Dubuque (M&W)

Sept. 27 - UW-Eau Claire (W)

Oct. 3 - at Cornell (M&W)

Oct. 7 - Loras (M&W)

Oct. 10 - Simpson (M&W)

Oct. 14 - at Buena Vista (M&W)

Oct. 17 - UW-Platteville (M&W)

Oct. 18 - at Gustavus Adolphus (M&W)

Oct. 21 - at Central (M&W)

Oct. 24 - at Wartburg (M&W)

Oct. 31 - Coe (M&W)

Upper Iowa

After coming off its best season in school history, the Upper Iowa men's team returns nine starters and 16 letterwinners.

Among the Peacocks' key returnees is second team All-Central Region goalkeeper Andy Youde of Cedar Falls, who stopped 78 shots and posted a 9-7-1 record a year ago.

The women's team returns 10 starters after finishing its 2008 season with a 9-9-3 record, including a 6-5-2 effort in the Northern Sun Conference.

The Peacocks will be led by second-team All-NSIC midfielder Amy Campbell. Third-team all-conference selection Christine Dwyer is also back, along with honorable mention all-conference pick Emily Gielau of Denver.

HEAD COACH - Brian Bahl

2008 RECORDS - Men 10-7-1; Women, 9-9-3

TOP MEN'S RETURNERS (13) - Andy Youde, Derek Oelmann, Matt Harrington, Jaryd White, Tony Varnava, Steve Kluck, Bo Miller, Alex Hess, Jason Olsgard, Josh Anderson, Frank Atchison, Justin Marchant, Zach Castor

TOP WOMEN'S RETURNERS (10) - Leslie Wilson, Allison Clark, Tiffany Barnish, Caitlin Verhulst, Amy Campbell, Emily Gielau, Cara Mauldin, Jamie Krusie, Christine Dwyer, Melissa Heitzman.

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 - Colo. School of Mines (M&W)

Sept. 6 - Missouri S&T (W)

Sept. 6 - UW-Parkside (M)

Sept. 9 - at Mount Mercy (M&W)

Sept. 11 - at Luther (M)

Sept. 16 - Waldorf (M&W)

Sept. 19 - Cardinal Stritch (M)

Sept. 19 - MSU-Moorhead (W)

Sept. 20 -Minnesota-Crookston (W)

Sept. 23 - Iowa Wesleyan (M)

Sept. 25 - at Winona State (W)

Sept. 25 - at St. Mary's (M)

Sept. 26 - UW-Superior (M&W)

Oct. 1 - Wartburg (M)

Oct. 2 - Bemidji State (W)

Oct. 4 - Minnesota-Duluth (W)

Oct. 8 - at Truman State (M)

Oct. 10 - at Wayne State (W)

Oct. 11 - at Augustana (W)

Oct. 12 - Missouri-St. Louis (M)

Oct. 16 - Concordia-St. Paul (W)

Oct. 16 - University of Mary (M)

Oct. 18 - Truman State (M&W)

Oct. 19 - at Northwestern (M&W)

Oct. 21 - Clarke (M&W)

Oct. 24 - at SW Minnesota State (W)

Oct. 25 - at Minnesota State (W)

Oct. 28 - Ashford (M)

Oct. 30 - at Briar Cliff (M)

Oct. 31 - at Northern State (W)

Nov. 1 - at University of Mary (M&W)