UCF Will Host Washington State in 1st Round of 2017 NCAA Tournament

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 2-seeded UCF Knights will host the Washington State Cougars in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at the UCF Soccer & Track Complex. That matchup marks the 21st NCAA tournament appearance for the Knights, and it is their first appearance as the second seed.

“We are thrilled with earning a No. 2 seed,” fifth-year Knights head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said, per a UCF press release. “This team really deserved that. I am really proud of them and really excited to host this first match. Washington State is a good team and beat UCLA this year, so this will not be an easy road to get out of the first round. We are thrilled to be home and hope to have a lot of fans out there on Saturday night.”

UCF is coming off an American Athletic Conference tournament second-place finish after falling to the USF Bulls on penalty kicks 5-3 after a 0-0 double-overtime standstill. The Knights, however, are still riding a 16-game unbeaten streak entering the first round of the NCAA tournament, not losing since the season-opener against the then-No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks.

If the Knights beat Washington State, they will host the winner of a first-round matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Murray State Racers. Second-round and Sweet 16 matches will be played on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19, respectively.

The Knights’ meeting with Washington State will be the second time the cross-country sides have played each other. UCF won the first meeting 2-0 in 2011. As of the latest rankings, Washington State is 49th, and UCF moved up two spots to No. 5.

UCF is having a historic season in both the attack and defense. Following a 2-0, season-opening loss to the Gamecocks, the Knights have won 13 matches and drawn three. Along the way, 2017 AAC Goalkeeper of the Year Vera Varis and the Knights’ defense have recorded eight clean sheets. In the final third, UCF has out-scored its opponents 43-5. That scoring output is led by 2017 AAC Offensive Player of the Year Morgan Ferrara’s 13 goals and three assists, 2017 AAC Midfielder of the Year Kayla Adamek’s 10 goals and three assists and the 2017 Rookie of Year Dina Orschman’s six goals and seven assists.

Kickoff between the Knights and Cougars in UCF’s 10th time hosting an NCAA tournament match is set for 7 p.m.

For more on the Knights, as they prepare for their 21st NCAA tournament appearance, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.