PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Jontell Ritz fires a shot during the Lady Badgers’ scrimmage at Gatesville. Both Lampasas varsity teams kick off their seasons today at the Mustang Winter Classic in Marble Falls. The Badgers’ and Lady Badgers’ varsity soccer seasons are starting today, whether they like the weather or not.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the low 20s when play begins at the Ninth Annual Mustang Winter Classic in Marble Falls this morning and could remain below freezing for the duration of the two-day tournament.

The Lady Badgers will be the first to face the elements, opening play at 9:30 a.m. against San Angelo Lakeview inside Pony Stadium.

After a short break, the team returns to the pitch for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Canyon Lake. The match will take place at Mustang Stadium’s second field.

On Saturday morning, the Lady Badgers will meet Austin McCallum at 9 a.m. inside Pony Stadium.

The Badgers open their season at 12:30 p.m. today against Shoemaker at Mustang Stadium’s second field.

At 4 p.m. the team will conclude the first day of play against Rowlett at Pony Stadium.

Lampasas returns to action Saturday for a match versus Copperas Cove at noon. It will take place at Mustang Stadium’s second field.

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams will conclude tournament play with an afternoon match on Saturday, but opponents, times and locations will be determined by how the teams fare in their first three contests.

The Lady Badgers are coming off a 6-0 shutout scrimmage loss to Brownwood at home Tuesday, while the Badgers played to a 2-2 tie at Shoemaker in their final scrimmage Tuesday.