Nov. 11, 2010
="" alt="Knight Head" border="0" class="imported"> Read John Denton's Knights Insider | ="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported">Follow us on Twitter | ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported">Get social with the Knights on Facebook
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
LOS ANGELES (UCFAthletics.com) - A national-seed for the second-straight year, the UCF women's soccer team makes its 15th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament this week in Los Angeles. The No. 4-seeded Knights open up with Fresno State in the First Round Thursday at 11 p.m. ET, with the winner to face either host UCLA or BYU Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.
The Knights traveled 2,223 miles from Orlando to Los Angeles for the first two rounds, the second-longest trip of the field this year (only California had to travel a longer distance at 2,346 miles to Gainesville, Fla.).
"The one thing we're excited about is playing on Thursday because after Sunday's game we have this hunger to play right away," said head coach Amanda Cromwell. "Traditionally after a loss we have been very good in our next game so hopefully that holds true.
"We have a lot of energy right now and we have already been able to enjoy a little bit of California by going to the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean. And our training session Wednesday went very well, so we can't want to get this started."
UCF's (14-4-3) best showing in the NCAA Tournament was when it reached the Final Four twice including an appearance in the NCAA Finals in 1982 in Orlando. Meanwhile, UCF's 15 appearances in the postseason are tied for the 14th most in NCAA history.
Last year, the Black and Gold was a No. 3 seed but just like 2010 were shipped across the country as it traveled to Wisconsin. Facing chilly conditions and a rough field, the Knights defeated Milwaukee, 3-0, only to fall to the host Badgers, 1-0, in the second round.
This year will be the first time UCF has traveled to California for the postseason.
Fresno State (9-8-5) has had an up-and-down season, starting the year 0-3-0 before winning four-straight including a 2-1 decision at UTEP. The Bulldogs then went 0-6-2 to hold a 4-9-2 record on Oct. 15. However they have not lost a match since, and own a 5-0-3 record in their last eight, highlighted by a shootout victory over San Jose State in the WAC Tournament finals to earn the league's automatic bid.
Nicole Duff paces all Bulldogs with six goals and 15 points, while Kaitlyn Revel has racked up seven shutouts and a 0.91 goals-against average in net.
The only time the Knights and Bulldogs met was in Orlando in 2006, which resulted in a 0-0 tie.
If UCF is able to take down the Bulldogs in the opening round, the Knights will meet either host UCLA or BYU Saturday. Ranked third in the nation in the preseason, UCLA claims a 12-7-1 record, outscoring opponents, 32-16, as Sydney Leroux has 12 of those goals. And BYU claimed the MWC Tournament crown to improve its record to 16-3-2. Its only losses were to ranked opponents.
UCF earned a No. 18 RPI rating by the NCAA when the field of 64 was announced, and three of the four teams competing at UCLA have an RPI of No. 31 or better. UCLA sits at No. 23, while BYU is at No. 31. Fresno State lays outside the top 100 at No. 109.