Nov. 24, 2011
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Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In what will be a rematch of the second game of 2011, the UCF women's soccer team will take on top-seeded Wake Forest Friday night at Spry Stadium in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. UCF will be eyeing its second-ever trip to the College Cup with a win over the Demon Deacons.
In its fifth-consecutive postseason appearance under head coach Amanda Cromwell, the Knights broke through to the Sweet 16 after knocking off No. 2 Florida, 3-2, on Nov. 18. Just two days later, UCF returned to the pitch to shock No. 3 UNC in penalty kicks, 5-4, for its first Elite Eight appearance since 1987. UCF is only one of two (Long Beach State) unseeded teams remaining in the tournament field.
Friday night's matchup will be a familiar one for the Knights as the two teams met back on Aug. 21 in Orlando with Wake Forest getting the 1-0 victory. UCF senior goalkeeper Aline Reis (Campinas, Brazil) totaled five saves including two highlight-reel stops against the Demon Deacons, while Tishia Jewell (Satellite Beach, Fla.) led all players with six shots, placing three on goal. Prior to 2011, the two squads had never met on the pitch.
So far this postseason, the Knights have totaled six goals in three contests with junior Kristina Trujic (Venice, Fla.) leading the way with two on only three shots. Seeing many offensive touches in the three matches, Jewell has aided in two Knights scores for a team-high 10 assists on the year as well as recording her seventh goal of the year against FIU in the first round.
Reis has continued her stellar play between the posts for UCF as she has turned away eight shots in regulation during the three postseason matches. Against UNC, it was Reis who stoned the Tar Heels on the second and sixth tries in PKs to help the Knights advance on to Friday's match.
Live streaming for the Elite Eight matchup can be found on WakeForestsports.com with live commentary on twitter.com/UCF_Soccer.