ORLANDO, Fla. – The Knights are just days away from officially opening its 41st season, the UCF women's soccer team is set to host Texas on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. to open the 2021 campaign.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the women's soccer schedule was pushed to be played in the spring of 2021, where the Black and Gold finished with a 2-4-1 mark.
THE ROSTER
The Knights return experience at every position from a season ago, with at least 10 players returning with starts in more than half of the games played in the spring, with a total of 21 returners on the roster. The squad is highlighted 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference honorees Madison Murnin and Ellie Moreno, as well as AAC All-Rookie member Katie Bradley.
The Black and Gold will also welcome 10 newcomers, joining the squad from Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Spain and Sweden. The newest Knights include four transfers, Lizah Pistorio and Marta Estupinan from Ole Miss, Brianna Waggoner from Florida Atlantic and Cara Young from Eastern Florida State College. Anna Henderson will also be eligible after sitting the 2020-21 season after arriving to Orlando's Hometown Team from Louisville prior to the spring season.
THE SCHEDULE
"This may be the toughest schedule we've ever put together as a staff at UCF," head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak had to say about the 2021 slate that opens Thursday, Aug. 19 against Texas at the UCF Soccer Complex at 6 p.m.
After the home opener, the Knights are slated to host three more Power Six opponents at the UCF Soccer Complex in LSU on Aug. 29, No. 10 Penn State on Sept. 5 and No. 3 North Carolina on Sept. 12. "We want to be one of the top teams in the country, and you can't do that without putting yourself up against the best," added head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak on the strength of the UCF schedule.
The Knights will play nine matches in American Athletic Conference play, five at home and four on the road. UCF's home conference schedule is highlighted by the 2021 edition of the War on I4, as No. 20 South Florida is set to come to Orlando on Thursday, Oct. 7.
THE PROMOTIONS
The UCF women's soccer home slate is jam-packed with promotions for the 2021 season. To view the full list of promotions, please click here.
TICKETS
The UCF women's soccer team is set to begin their ninth season under Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak in 2021. Tickets are on sale for the 2021 season, click here to purchase single game and season tickets.
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