Nov. 14, 2007
The collegiate sport of women's soccer has been dominated by a select number of teams since the NCAA recognized the sport in 1982. North Carolina may have the majority of the hardware and get the most attention. Connecticut, Virginia and Santa Clara are all rich in tradition as well. But UCF has not taken a back seat when it comes to success in Division I.
Most UCF students were not even born when women's soccer hit the big time on campus. And it certainly did not take the program very long to reach the top. In its first season in 1981, the Knights went 11-3-0 and were the runner-up in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Tournament. That year actually began a fierce rivalry with North Carolina as the Tar Heels defeated UCF 1-0 in the finals. UNC actually became the Black & Gold's nemesis from that point on.
The Knights served as the host school for the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1982 and defeated Massachusetts and UConn to reach the title match. Although it lost to North Carolina, UCF had found a place in the history books.
Two years later, it was back and edged William & Mary in the first round before falling to none other than the Tar Heels in the second round. Head coach Jim Rudy eventually reached his seventh year as UCF's first leader and took his team to the 1987 NCAA Final Four.
Rudy did have a little help from a student-athlete by the name of Michelle Akers. Arguably the best women's player in the world, Akers was a four-time All-America selection (1984, 86-88) and won the Hermann Award in 1988 for the Knights. Her stellar UCF career helped Akers to a professional life in Sweden and ultimately a spot on the U.S. National Team, which won the 1999 World Cup.
Bill Barker took over and guided the Knights to two more NCAA Tournament appearances in five seasons in Orlando. Following Barker, Karen Richter spent six years with the soccer program with her first being UCF's initial campaign in the Atlantic Sun in 1993. Richter immediately claimed four-straight A-Sun titles and reached the NCAA First Round in her final year in 1998.
Looking to keep the winning tradition alive, Amanda Cromwell took over the helm with six years of college coaching behind her. She not only ensured UCF from staying in the NCAA picture, she took the Knights to a brand new level.
With the world of college soccer quickly evolving through the 1990s and into the 21st century, Cromwell's teams still won four A-Sun crowns and reached the NCAA Tournament on four occasions. UCF then entered Conference USA and has posted a 22-3-2 league record in the last three seasons, culminating into a postseason berth in 2007.
Overall, UCF has had just two losing seasons since 1981, and will be making its 12th journey to the NCAA Tournament this year. No matter the outcome, the Knights can be considered one of the most influential programs in the history of women's college soccer, and this year's team guarantees that the trend lives on.