UCF hosts FIU in NCAA tourney

A second chance is all they wanted.

After dropping a 3-5 contest against No. 5 Memphis at home on Oct. 23, the women's soccer Knights thought they had played their final game at home this season.

"My last game at home, it wasn't the way I thought it was going to be," senior goalkeeper Aline Reis said in a release.

That all changed, however. After receiving an at-large bid, UCF (11-4-5) will play host to Florida International on Friday at the UCF Soccer Complex during the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

"It is so nice to have another chance [to play at home]," Reis said.

Playing in the NCAA tournament is nothing new for the Knights. On Friday, UCF will have appeared in the NCAA tournament 16 times, which is the most out of any university in Florida. What will be new this time for the Knights, though, will be playing at the UCF Soccer Complex.

"Playing at home with our new stadium, we are going to make a push to get a big crowd out there," head coach Amanda Cromwell said.

FIU enters the game as Sun Belt conference champions and owns a 13-6-3 record this season.

"FIU is very well-coached," Cromwell said. "They are always very good. They are athletic and well-organized. It is going to be a test for us."

The Knights hope that hosting the game will give them the home-field advantage they need as FIU will look to bring a crowd of their own to the game.

"It is a great honor to host," Cromwell said. "We are very excited to be at home for the first weekend. The team is ready. It is tournament time, so they are very excited."

Action kicks off at 7 p.m. this Friday at the UCF Soccer Complex.

Tickets are available for purchase at UCFathletics.com or at the Bright House Networks Stadium ticket box. Ticket prices for adults are $8, while admission for college students with a student ID, youth (ages 2-17) and seniors (55+) is $5.