Aug. 27, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Ready to embark on arguably the most exciting and toughest stretch of any women's soccer program this year, UCF will be traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face No. 1 North Carolina Friday at 7 p.m. and No. 10 Duke Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Carolina Nike Classic. The trip opens up a string of five matches that includes three top-10 opponents and another which was recently ranked No. 25.
UCF, UNC and Duke bring 1-0-0 records into this weekend's action, with the Knights defeating Florida Gulf Coast, 2-0, on Aug. 21. Sophomores Katie Jackson and Andrea Rodrigues each netted goals for UCF, which outshot the Eagles, 20-5.
After meeting UNC and Duke, the Black and Gold face LSU, which was ranked No. 25 in the preseason, and Florida International in the USF Tournament Sept. 4-6. UCF then hosts No. 5 Florida State Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
When the Knights clash with the Tar Heels on Friday, it will be the first time the two schools have met on the pitch since 1999. But in UCF's first season of women's soccer in 1981, it met UNC in the finals of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Tournament, then again in the title match of the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1982. The Tar Heels defeated the Knights both times, and currently hold a 15-0-3 lead in the all-time series.
Last year's NCAA champions, UNC is coming off a 7-2 victory over then-No. 3UCLA to open its 2009 season, highlighted by two quick goals in the first four minutes of play by the Tar Heels.
Duke, meanwhile, defeated Gardner-Webb, 3-0, in a match last weekend that saw the Blue Devils finish with a 36-4 advantage in the shot department. They lead the series with the Knights, 6-1-0, as UCF's lone victory occurred on Duke's home field in 1991.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.