Soccer Earns Second Straight Postseason Berth
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami soccerteam qualified for its second straight postseason appearance and fifth inprogram history Monday, earning an at-large bid to the 2012 NCAA Division IWomen’s Soccer Championship.
The Hurricanes will make the short trip to Orlando for their opening roundmatchup with Conference USA tournament champions and No. 20 UCF. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m. on Nov. 10.
“We’re just really excited. We had some big wins at the end of the year, and Ithink that helped us,” assistant coach Jason Hamilton said. “Obviously it’snerve-wracking waiting to find out who you’re playing, but we’re excited.”
The Canes fell in their regular season match-up with the Knights earlier in the year, dropping the overtime thriller 1-0 back on Aug. 26.
The Hurricanes were one of nine representatives chosen fromthe Atlantic Coast Conference. Joining Miami (9-7-3, 4-4-2 ACC) from theconference will be Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, NorthCarolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
The nine ACC teams selected to the 2012 NCAA Tournament field led allconferences, three more than both the Southeastern Conference and Pac-12.Monday’s announcement marked the tenth straight year that at least seven ACCteams have made the Championship field, and the 14th straight yearthat at least six have been selected.
“With all the injuries we had, I think we were down at onepoint seven or eight starters,” assistant coach Matt Kagan said. “To have itculminate in an NCAA Tournament for us is a great reward. We’re proud of thekids.”
Miami earned its first-ever postseason win in 2011 with a3-2 double-overtime victory over Alabama at Cobb Stadium. Now the Hurricanesare matched up with a familiar opponent – a factor that works to both sides’advantage.
“It was a really upsetting loss, and just the chance to playthem again is awesome,” senior defender Ali Brennan said. “Having another NCAATournament to play in is amazing.”
