Aug. 16, 2011
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By Jordean Matthews
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFathletics.com) - UCF's women's soccer team begins the 2011 season ranked No. 24 in the nation by Soccer America.
UCF is ranked amongst the country's elite, including last year's Women's College Cup finalists, Stanford and Champions Notre Dame, as well as a host of Pac 10 and ACC teams. The Black and Gold were the only Conference USA team to earn a spot in the rankings.
The Knights were a fixture in the Top 25 last season, reaching the No. 18 spot by Soccer America in mid-October.
Last week, the Knights were ranked No. 27 by TopDrawerSoccer.com and named the favorite to win the C-USA Championship. UCF had a number of player honors as well including a league-high four players named to the C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team. Junior Tishia Jewell (Satellite Beach, Fla.) was also honored as the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Jewell was ranked 23rd in the nation with 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists last season and was also named to the NSCAA All-Central Region First Team. Other Knights honored were sophomore Marissa Diggs (Rowlett, Texas) and seniors Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla.) and Aline Reis(Campinas, Brazil). Junior Andrea Rodrigues (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was selected to the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) All-Sunshine Conference Team.
The Knights ended last season with 15-5-3 record and its fourth-straight showing in the NCAA Tournament Second Round earning them the title of C-USA Preseason favorites for the second year.
UCF begins the regular season Friday Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. against USF. The game will be broadcasted live on Bright House Sports Network.