ORLANDO, Fla. – Highlighted by nine matches at the UCF Soccer Complex, the UCF women's soccer announced its 2021 schedule Tuesday afternoon. The 16-match campaign features four squads in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 six teams that competed in the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament this past spring.
The Black and Gold will return 21 for the Fall 2021 campaign, including American Athletic Conference Second Team All-Conference honorees Madison Murnin and Ellie Moreno, as well as AAC All-Rookie member Katie Bradley.
UCF will also welcome 10 newcomers joining the squad from Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, Washington, Spain, and Sweden. Three of the new faces are transfers, including Lizah Pistorio and Marta Estupinan from Ole Miss, and Cara Young from Eastern Florida State College. Anna Henderson will also be eligible after sitting out the spring campaign when she arrived on campus from Louisville. Incoming freshman and local product Mia Asenjo was also recognized as the 2020-21 Gatorade Florida Girls Soccer Player of the Year over the summer.
Click here to view the full 2021 UCF women's soccer schedule.
BY THE NUMBERS
16 total matches
9 home matches
4 matches vs. Top 25
6 matches vs. NCAA tournament teams
8 matches against the RPI Top 100
7 matches against the RPI Top 75
5 matches against the RPI Top 50
3 matches against the RPI Top 25
NON-CONFERENCE HOME SLATE
The Knights boast a non-conference home schedule that features four Power 6 opponents. Opening the regular season slate at home on Aug. 19, UCF hosts Texas as they look to even the all-time series, which currently sits at 1-2-0. Ten days later, LSU pays a visit to Orlando's Hometown Team for just the second time in the history of the two programs for a contest on Aug. 29.
Beginning a three-game stretch against opponents that finished the 2020-21 campaign in the Top 25, the Knights welcome No. 11 Penn State on Sept. 5 and No. 3 North Carolina on Sept. 12 in back-to-back weekends. UCF is currently 1-1-0 and 1-18-4 all-time against the two programs, respectively, and marks the fourth time in seven years the Sahaydaks will go up against their alma mater.
The Black and Gold will close the non-conference season on Sept. 19 against Stetson, as the Knights will look to extend the win streak to 24 consecutive games against the Hatters.
KEY AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CONTESTS
The UCF women's soccer team will open American Athletic Conference play on the road against Houston, before returning to the UCF Soccer Complex on Sept. 16 with a midweek contest against Memphis. The Tigers finished the 2020-21 campaign with an 8-4 mark, 6-1 in the AAC.
The 2021 edition of the War on I4 rivalry will take place in Orlando as UCF hosts No. 12 South Florida on Oct. 7. The last time the two squads took the pitch at the UCF Soccer Complex, the Knights claimed the regular season War on I4 title with a 1-0 victory.
With two remaining home games on the schedule, the Knights will host Tulsa on Oct. 10 before returning home for the final home game of the campaign on Oct. 24 against Temple. UCF currently sits at 14-1-1 against Tulsa and is 10-0-1 all-time against the Owls.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale for the 2021 season! Click here to purchase single game and season tickets.
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