NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Season and individual tickets now are on sale for the entire 2010 Notre Dame women’s soccer season.

The Fighting Irish, who return nine of 11 starters and more than 80 percent of their offense from last year’s squad that went 21-4-1 and made its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Women’s College Cup, open their season at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 against Minnesota at Alumni Stadium.

Notre Dame has nine regular-season home matches this season, highlighted by the 18th annual Inn at Saint Mary’s Classic on Sept. 3  and Sept. 5 at Alumni Stadium. Texas Tech will take on Ole Miss at 5 p.m. on Sept. 3 to kick off this year’s tournament, with the host Fighting  Irish renewing their rivalry with West Coast Conference power Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m. On Sept. 5, Ole Miss and Santa Clara will tangle in the tournament opener at 11 a.m., followed by Notre Dame and Texas Tech at 1:30 p.m.

Other spotlight matches on the 2010 Fighting Irish women’s soccer home schedule include the BIG EAST Conference opener against Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, as well as conference matchups with NCAA Championship participants St. John’s (noon, Oct. 3 on CBS College Sports) and Rutgers (1 p.m., Oct. 10 preceded by the team’s annual Senior Day ceremony). Notre Dame’s contests against the Red Storm and Scarlet Knights last season both were one-goal Fighting Irish wins, with the St. John’s victory coming on Jessica Schuveiller’s goal with less than two minutes left in the first overtime in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship.

A season pass is $30 for adults and $25 for youth (21 and under)/seniors (55 and older). Kids three years of age and younger are free for all regular season matches. A fan pack, which includes four season passes, is $70.

Individual game tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth/seniors. Groups of 20-or-more are half price.

There is free admission for Notre Dame/Saint Mary’s/Holy Cross students with a valid student ID. Notre Dame faculty and staff also will receive free admission for regular season matches with a current Notre Dame ID. Those offers are void when capacity is reached.

To purchase a season pass or single-game tickets, call the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office at (574) 631-7356, visit the tickets page at the official Fighting Irish athletics web site, UND.com (www.UND.com/tickets), or stop by the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office windows inside the new Rosenthal Atrium at Purcell Pavilion (entrance via Gate 9). Tickets can also be purchased at Alumni Stadium on gamedays.

New for the 2010 season — fans are invited to be a part of the new unofficial Notre Dame soccer supporters’ group, The Rakes of Mallow.

This student-based group will be attending all Fighting Irish men’s and women’s home matches this season and is aiming to create a special home pitch atmosphere unlike any other in college soccer. For more information, visit the Rakes of Mallow web site (www.rakesofmallow.net).

For all Notre Dame home soccer matches, fans are encouraged to park in the C1 lot (the main lot located south of Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center and just steps away from the main entrance to Alumni Stadium).