June 17, 2016
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Eight home matches highlight a challenging fall slate for the UCF women's soccer team, who released its 2016 schedule on Friday.
"We are very happy with the 2016 fall schedule. Our goal was to create a challenging non-conference schedule that would prepare us for success in The American and the NCAA Tournament," head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydaksaid. "We're expecting to face a number of Top-25 opponents throughout the season, and the quality of competition will only enhance the gameday atmosphere. We love our fans, and we hope to see the Knights Watch, our passionate alums and UCF Soccer supporters in the stands."
Related: 2016 Fall Schedule (PDF Format) | Purchase Season Tickets
The Knights will face seven teams who earned NCAA Tournament berths a year ago, including North Carolina and Duke in their season-opening weekend on Aug. 19-21.
The Sahaydaks will return to their alma mater UNC where Roberts Sahaydak was a two-time NCAA champion and still ranks among the program's top five for career starts. The Tar Heels advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year and Duke finished as the NCAA Runner-up to champion Penn State.
It will mark the first meeting between UCF and UNC since the 2011 NCAA Tournament when the Knights advanced to the Elite 8 in a shootout. The Black and Gold meets Duke for the first time since 2009 when UCF won 3-2 over a Top-10 Blue Devils squad.
"I'm excited to be headed back to UNC for the first time in my coaching career," Roberts Sahaydak said. "It's a special place with a lot of memories for both Tim and I, and it will be a fun weekend of soccer to kick off the season."
UCF is set to hold its home opener Aug. 25 against UMass before hosting 2015 NCAA Tournament participant South Carolina for the first time in school history. It will mark the first meeting with the Gamecocks in seven years. UCF gained South Carolina transfer and Orlando native Carrie Lawrence in the offseason.
September features four road matchups – three in the state of Florida. UCF travels to former conference foe Stetson (Sept. 4) for the first time since 2004. UCF will then take on back-to-back Atlantic Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast (Sept. 11) before going north to Gainesville for a Sept. 18 matchup with the reigning Southeastern Conference champion Gators.
The Knights begin their American Athletic Conference slate at home against Houston on Sept. 29 and stick around to face SMU on Oct. 2.
UCF travels to USF on Oct. 7 and is undefeated against the Bulls in Tampa. Last year was a great one for the rivalry series. The Knights upended the nationally ranked Bulls in their regular season finale at home but fell to USF for the first time in program history in double overtime of the league semifinals.
UCF will honor its senior class in its final home weekend, which features matches against reigning American Athletic Conference Tournament champion Cincinnati (Oct. 20) and East Carolina (Oct. 23).
The Knights close out the regular season on the road at Tulsa (Oct. 27) and Memphis (Oct. 30).
This year's American Athletic Conference Championship will take place at the site of the regular season champion. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Nov. 2; the semifinals Nov. 4 and the title game on Nov. 6.
UCF Soccer, presented by Napleton Volkswagen, features 11 returning players who clocked time in at least 10 matches last year. Among those returners include American Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the YearCarol Rodrigues and all-conference picks Kayla Adamek (first team) and Vera Varis (rookie team; all-tournament team).
In addition, an accomplished group of 10 newcomers who boast youth national team experience – both domestically and internationally – and have won championships on the state and national levels will suit up in the fall.
Story by Jenna Marina