Sept. 24, 2009

River Forest, Ill. - The Dominican University Department of Athletics released the schedule for the University's annual Homecoming Weekend. This year's events include alum men's and women's soccer matches, an alumni baseball game, tailgating, an Alumnae/i Bags Tournament and a vacation voucher raffle.

In addition to the traditional homecoming weekend events, the Department of Athletics is planning some special events for the weekend. At the varsity women's volleyball match on Friday night, the Department of Athletics will dedicate a banner to all of the NAIA Conference Championships and NAIA National Tournament Appearances for the University prior to the 2000-2001 athletic season. Then on Saturday, the Stars hope to reach out to families of their alums, with events like a Tailgate Barbeque, a "Dribble, Shoot, Score!" competition for children during halftime of the men's soccer game and holding a raffle for a Vacation Voucher from Gurnee Travel to be announced at halftime of the women's soccer match.

This is a special homecoming for the men's soccer team as it is the ten-year anniversary of the program's first trip to a national tournament as the 1999 men's soccer squad posted a program-best 21-2-0 record and earned a berth to the NAIA National Tournament. Since then, the Stars have made seven consecutive trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament starting in 2002.

"As a department, we are making a commitment to draw back alum interest in Dominican University Athletics," said Erick Baumann, the Director of Athletics at the University. "We are trying to bridge the gap between our current student-athletes and alum student-athletes."

For a complete lineup of the weekend's events and to RSVP to participate in any of the weekend, visit the Dominican University Athletics website at www.dustars.com and click on the Homecoming link on the left side of any page.