Nov. 15, 2008
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• UCF Game Notes
• NCAA Interactive Bracket
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF and Florida will meet for the fifth time in NCAA Tournament history when they clash in the Second Round Sunday at 1 p.m. in Gainesville. The Knights and Gators will be fighting for the right to move on to the Sweet Sixteen to face Texas A&M or Washington next weekend.
Recapping the NCAA First Round
The opening minutes of UCF's First Round contest with Miami were very rocky for the Knights and they eventually fell behind 1-0 Nov. 14. But a corner kick 30:46 into the first half swung momentum to the Black and Gold, as Danielle Dos Santos tied it up on a perfect pass from Lauren Halbert. It was all UCF the rest of the way, as Halbert made it 2-1 on a PK goal in the opening half and dos Santos added another for the 3-1 win. Aline Reis made six saves in net for the Knights.
Previewing the NCAA Second Round
Florida brings a No. 8 national ranking into the match against UCF, as well as the No. 2 regional seed. UF came back from a 1-0 deficit vs. California in the First Round for a 2-1 victory. It currently holds an 18-3-1 record while outscoring the competition 49-21, all well taking less shots (262-249). Three Gators have at least eight goals, led by Megan Kerns with 12. She also has eight assists for 32 points. Two goalies have split time this year, with Megahn Berlingo (14 GS, 0.69 GAA) and Katie Fraine (8 GS, 1.27 GAA) sharing the duties.
The Series
Florida may hold a 9-2-1 overall record over UCF, however the Knights are 2-1-1 in the last four meetings, including a 1-0 shutout win in Gainesville Aug. 29. The two schools played to a 0-0 draw in the Second Round last year before UF survived on penalty kicks, while the Knights picked up a 3-2 victory in the 2004 Tournament.
2008 NCAA Tournament
A quick breakdown of the 2008 NCAA Tournament:
First and Second Rounds: Nov. 14 & 16*
Third Round: Nov. 21, 22 or 23*
UCF/Florida vs. Texas A&M/Washington
Quarterfinals: Nov. 28, 29 or 30*
Semifinals: Dec. 5^
Final: Dec. 7^
* - Campus Sites
^ - Cary, N.C.
A History of NCAA Bids
The Knights currently rank tied for 16th in the nation and first in the Sunshine State with 13 all-time appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Their best finish was in the first year of the event in 1982 when they lost to North Carolina, 2-0, in the finals at UCF.
Of the 12 teams that qualified for the inaugural 1982 Tournament, five programs have earned bids in 2008: UCF, Boston College, Harvard, North Carolina and Princeton.
Experience in the Second Round
After the 3-1 win over Miami, UCF now stands at 7-5-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament First Round. In the next round, the Knights hold a 2-4-1 record with their last victory coming in 1987.
Flashy Shoes Help Ignite the Brazilian
Danielle Dos Santos had three points through the first 12 matches this year. She then caught fire. In her last 10 outings, the Campinas, Brazil, native has racked up seven goals and helped out on four more for 18 points. Dos Santos now holds the UCF lead with 21 points on the season.