The 2011-12 season gets started for The University of Texas at Tyler this weekend with cross country, men's and women's soccer and volleyball all opening their campaigns.

The Patriot women's soccer team has the honor of hosting the first home event of the new year when they meet Fredonia State at the Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex on Friday night at 7 p.m.  They will also host Texas College at 2 p.m. Sunday.

But first, the UT Tyler cross country teams get things rolling as they head to Waco for the Baylor Twilight Invitational on Thursday night. The Patriots' men are looking to defend their conference title. 

Suzanne Truitt will coach her first game for the Patriots volleyball team on Friday when UT Tyler opens with Central Baptist at 5 p.m. at the Hendrix College Tournament in Arkansas. The Patriots are also scheduled to play Williams Baptist, LeTourneau and host Hendrix in the event.  

Finally, the reigning American Southwest Conference champion men's soccer team will hit the road with games at Southwestern in Georgetown (Saturday) and Trinity in San Antonio (Monday).

You can follow the fall sports and all the UT Tyler teams at uttylerpatriots.com. The Patriots are also on Facebook and Twitter.