ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Highlighted by nine home matches, the UCF women’s soccer team announced its 2019 schedule Tuesday afternoon. The 17-match slate features five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
UCF will have 18 returners from the 2018 fall roster including Kristen Scott, Konya Plummer, and Asia Ervin. Plummer returns to the Knights after serving as captain for the Jamaica Women’s National Team in their first ever World Cup. Scott returns after earning all-rookie honors from the American Athletic Conference after netting six goals with 13 points.
The squad is sprinkled with 14 newcomers coming from Florida, Maryland, Texas, Illinois, Canada, England, Germany. Four of the recent additions are transfers including Olivia Smith from Oklahoma, Mollie Rouse from Louisville, Mallory Olsson from Miami, and Nahla Turner from West Virginia.
Head Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak enters her seventh season at the helm of the program after signing a contract extension in January keeping her with the Knights through the 2023 campaign.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Nine home matches
- Five matches against NCAA Tournament teams
- Two matches against conference champions
- Two matches against top 25 nationally ranked teams
- Three matches against top 25 RPI
- Seven matches against top 50 RPI
- Eight matches against top 75 RPI
- 11 matches against top 100 RPI
NON-CONFERENCE HOME SLATE
The Knights open the regular season hosting Big Ten opponents Wisconsin and Ohio State. UCF has not faced off with Wisconsin since 2014 when they beat the Badgers, 3-2 in Tallahassee. The Badgers finished with an RPI of 23 last season and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin leads the overall record, 3-2-1 as the Knights look to even the series on August 22.
Five days later, UCF will do battle with Ohio State who finished the 2018 regular season 9-6-4 with a conference record of 6-2-3. The Knights and Buckeyes will face each other for the first time in program history.
After facing George Mason and Florida at their home pitches, the Knights will host Arizona State and Stetson. The Sun Devils posted a 42 RPI to end 2018 and will compete against the Knights for the fourth time in program history. UCF leads 2-1 in the overall series after the Knights took down ASU in 2017 with a score of 2-1. UCF and ASU will battle on Sept. 12.
Three days after the match with ASU, the UCF will host Stetson. In 22 matches between the Knights and Hatters, UCF has never lost. Last season, UCF pounced on the Hatters, 5-1 in Deland as the Knights bring the rivalry back to Orlando.
KEY AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MATCHUPS
The Knights open conference play hosting Memphis who finished the 2018 season ranked 23rd in the country and with an RPI of 15. Memphis finished the season with a 17-4 overall record and 7-2 in The American. The Knights took down the Tigers, 2-0 last season handing them their first loss in conference play. The match will be played on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m., at the UCF Soccer Complex.
The War on I-4 is back on UCF’s turf this season and will cap of the regular season. The Knights and Bulls will faceoff on Thursday, October 31 at 6 p.m. Last season, UCF fell to South Florida, 1-0 as the Bulls claimed the regular season title. South Florida was also crowned the conference champions and they finished with a national ranking of 19 and an RPI of 16. UCF controls the series, 10-3-4.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale for the 2019 season! Click here to purchase season tickets.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Women’s Soccer on social media on Facebook (UCF.WSoccer), Twitter (UCF_WSoccer) and Instagram (UCF.WSoccer).