Nov. 10, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Purchase Tickets to Friday's Match vs. FIU
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the first time since 1988, the UCF women's soccer program will host an NCAA Championship match when the Knights host FIU Friday in first-round action at the UCF Soccer Complex. UCF will be making its fifth-straight NCAA Championship appearance, and will host the Panthers at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the match are available at UCFAthletics.com, Ticketmaster.com and the UCF Athletics ticket office at Bright House Networks Stadium. Tickets can be purchased on Friday outside the soccer complex.
UCF received an at-large berth into the postseason after posting another impressive campaign. The Knights enter the tournament 11-4-5 overall. Head coach Amanda Cromwell's team spent much of the year in the top-25 nationally and posted a 6-3-3 mark in Conference USA play.
The team faced a challenging schedule as the Knights played five ranked opponents during the regular season, earning victories over No. 19 Penn State and No. 24 San Diego, both away from home. UCF also tied No. 22 San Diego State in California. Six of UCF's foes will compete in the NCAA Championship.
The Knights will be making their 16th trip to the NCAA Championship, which is the most of any school in Florida. UCF has advanced to the second round of the tournament in each of the last four seasons. The Knights are one of 32 teams nationally hosting a first-round match.
UCF is led by All-C-USA First Team selections Tishia Jewell (Satellite Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Marissa Diggs (Rowlett, Texas). A forward, Jewell leads C-USA with eight assists and also has six goals on the year for 20 points. Diggs has started all 20 contests at center back and played all but seven minutes during C-USA games as UCF allowed just seven goals in 11 contests. She has helped the Knights record nine shutouts during the regular season.
The contest against the Panthers will allow UCF's three seniors - Stacie Hubbard (Jacksonville, Fla.), Katie Jackson (Satellite Beach, Fla.) and Aline Reis (Campinas, Brazil) - to play at least one more home contest. The Knights are 6-2-3 in Orlando in 2011.
The winner of the UCF-FIU match will meet either No. 2 seed Florida or Florida Gulf Coast in the second round on Nov. 18. If the Gators defeat Florida Gulf Coast, they could host second and third round games next weekend in Gainesville.
FIU claimed the Sun Belt Championship title this past weekend and enters the NCAA Championship 13-6-3. The Knights and Panthers did not meet this season, and UCF has a 26-4-3 edge in the all-time series.
Tickets for adults are $8, while admission for college students with a school ID, youth (2-17) and seniors (55+) is $5.
Fans attending the game can park in Garage F across from the UCF Soccer Complex. Gates to the stadium will open at 5:30 p.m.