Sept. 8, 2011
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By Jordean Matthews
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFathletics.com) - The UCF women's soccer team continues its battle of ranked opponents as it takes on No. 19 Penn State in the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic Friday at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville. This match will mark the fourth-straight nationally ranked team UCF (2-1-1) will face and begins at 4:30 p.m.
"Our athletes come to our program because they want to compete amongst and be the best," UCF associate head coach Colby Hale said. "We do this because it helps us to improve our RPI as well as prepare us for our conference opponents."
The Knights have been fighting their way through the early season, competing against nationally ranked opponents with a win against No. 24 San Diego on Sept. 4 (1-0), a tie at No. 22 San Diego State on Sept. 2 (4-4) and their lone loss of the season to No. 18 Wake Forest on Aug. 21 (2-1). UCF's first win of the season came against USF on Aug. 19 when the Knights defeated the Bulls, 5-1. All of the Knights' opponents thus far have competed in the NCAA tournament within the last two seasons.
The Black and Gold are led by juniors Tishia Jewell (Satellite Beach, Fla.), Bianca Joswiak (Berlin, Germany) and Nicolette Radovcic (Rockaway, N.J.). Jewell has two goals and four assists for eight points in 2011 and was ranked 23rd in the nation last season with 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists and was also named to the NSCAA All-Central Region First Team.
Joswiak earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team and led the team in minutes played with 1,933 in 2010 and is second on the team in points this season with seven on three goals and an assist. Radovcic contributed four points for the Knights on one goal and two assists early in the season.
Penn State (5-1) is currently on a five game win streak, and behind the efforts of its sophomore, Maya Hayes, the Nittany Lions will be a challenge for the Knights.
After competing against Washington State Sunday morning, the Knights will return home Sept. 16 against Jacksonville to play at the UCF Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.