ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – As the UCF women's soccer team kicked off preseason training this week, the first National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason season poll was released. The NSCAA ranks the nation's top men's and women's collegiate soccer programs and traditionally includes the top 25 teams from each division.
UCF has been ranked or receiving votes in every NSCAA poll in each of the last five seasons. While the Knights did not make the top 25 this round, the team received the third most votes in the American, just behind rival USF and No. 15 UConn.
Looking ahead, the Knights are set to host a friendly at the UCF Soccer Complex on Thursday, Aug. 11 against Miami. The exhibition match will be free to attend and feature a post-game meet and greet with the team.
The Knights are returning 12 players who clocked time in at least 10 matches last year and adding nine newcomers. Among the returners are American Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year Carol Rodrigues and all-conference picks Kayla Adamek (first team) and Vera Varis (rookie team; all-tournament team).
UCF will open the 2016 regular season with two games on the road in Chapel Hill, N.C. where they will face North Carolina and Duke.
Head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and associate head coach and husband Tim Sahaydak will be returning to their alma mater UNC for the first time as coaches. Roberts Sahaydak was a two-time NCAA champion for the Tar Heels and still ranks among the program's top five for career starts
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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.
The Sahaydaks have a career coaching record of 99-64-25 over 9 seasons with Roberts Sahaydak as head coach. The Knights next victory will be the 100th career win for the Sahaydaks as a coaching tandem.
The UCF home opener is slated for Aug. 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the UCF Soccer Complex.
Season tickets are now available at http://ucfknights.co/WsoccerTix or by calling 407-UCF-1000. For just $30, fans receive one-general admission seat to all 2016 regular season home matches and as a bonus, season-ticket holders will also receive a special soccer scarf.
