JACKSON -- Returning all but two players from last season's roster and adding five fresh, new faces, the Millsaps women's soccer team reported to camp Saturday to prepare for the upcoming 2006 season.

The Majors look to continue the success they experienced at the end of last year and will have the experience of 17 returning letter winners to try and do just that.

With just two weeks to prepare for a tough opening weekend against top contender for the ASC title, the University of Texas-Dallas and Luther College, the Majors anticipate training twice a day before classes begin next week. Both games will be played in Memphis, Tenn., on the campus of Rhodes College.

"While we have a long way to go to be ready for our first contest, I'm extremely optimistic about what we saw today," third year head coach Paul Van Hooydonk said. "We had a substantial number of athletes successfully pass the fitness test, and our overall fitness is pretty good."

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Majors, as they then travel to cross-town rival Mississippi College on Sept. 8, before hosting back-to-back home games with Louisiana College on Sept. 9 followed by neighbor, Belhaven College on Sept. 13.

"Team fitness is essential if we are going to train at a high intensity level throughout the preseason," Van Hooydonk said. "It appears we will be much deeper this season with numerous options in most positions."

The rugged SCAC conference schedule opens Sept. 22 with a three-day road swing to Texas to face Southwestern and 2005 NCAA semifinalist, Trinity University.

The Majors will play host to nine home matches this season, with a visit from 2005 conference champion and NCAA qualifier, DePauw University highlighting the schedule on Sept. 29.

The Majors will honor their three seniors on Oct. 22 before the final home match of the season against Hendrix College.