BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- The LIU Brooklyn women's golf team will begin its 2017-18 schedule this weekend when the squad takes part in the annual Rutgers University Women's Invitational. The team's Fall season opener is scheduled for Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10.

LIU, the bronze medalists at last year's Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships, returns its entire rosters from 2016-17, including All-NEC Second Team selection Carolina Ronchel. The native of Huelva, Spain was the Blackbirds' best performer last season, playing in eight of LIU's nine tournaments and recording a team-best average of 78.89 over 18 rounds.

The Blackbirds performed well as a collective despite only having one upperclassman on the roster. The team's effort was rewarded recently after LIU was named one of the inaugural recipients of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) & Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA)'S Mark Laesch Awards. Teams were recognized based on improvement in adjusted stroke average per individual per round from the 2015-16 to 2016-17 seasons (denoted in parentheses).

LIU was the WGCA's recipient from Division I with an improvement of 6.7 strokes. The Blackbirds joined Regis University from Division II (6.42) and Division III Transylvania University (10.15) as WGCA honorees.