Men’s, women’s soccer release 2012 schedules

UCF men’s soccer coach Bryan Cunningham announced his program’s 2012 schedule last Thursday, a slate featuring some challenging games. The 2012 campaign for the Knights will feature six matches against squads that participated in last season’s NCAA Tournament.

UCF will play eight home contests in 2012, including a matchup against last year’s national runner-up, Charlotte, on Sept. 26. The Knights will open their home slate on Sept. 1 against Old Dominion, and UCF will also play key home matches against SMU and UAB.

The program is looking to build upon a 2011 season that saw the Knights in the top 25 the entire season and ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation.

Women’s soccer to host matches against Florida State, Miami

Fresh from a 2011 campaign that saw the UCF Knights women’s soccer program ascend all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, the Knights have announced their 2012 schedule.

The schedule, announced Friday, features home games against Florida State and Miami, a preseason scrimmage against the Florida Gators and important home games against Georgia and USF.

UCF will also play important games on the road against NCAA Tournament competition, including Florida Gulf Coast and Boston College.

“We love our 2012 schedule. It’s the perfect balance and creates the tests our team needs to compete at a high level in the NCAA Tournament,” head coach Amanda Cromwell said in a release. “Players come to UCF because they want to play against the best. In 2012, we’ve definitely accomplished that.”

Ishmael, Goins named to preseason watch lists

Another pair of UCF Knights football players have been named to preseason award watch lists.

Senior free safety Kemal Ishmael was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List on Friday, while senior offensive guard Theo Goins landed a spot on the watch list for the 2012 Outland Trophy.

The Thorpe Award is annually awarded to the top defensive back in the nation, and the preseason watch list contains 35 hopefuls. The Outland is given to the top interior lineman in the country, and Goins is the only hopeful from Conference USA.