BYU Hosts First and Second Round of NCAA Tournament, Faces Virginia Tech

PROVO -- The NCAA announced the 2008 Women’s Soccer College Cup Bracket on Monday, and the Cougars will host the first and second rounds of the tournament for the first time since 2002.

“We’re just so excited,” said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. “We knew we had an outside chance to host, and the girls are really excited. We get great support at home, and it’s another chance for our seniors to play at home, so we’re looking forward to it.”

No. 22 BYU (17-5-0, 7-0-0 MWC) will play against No. 25 Virginia Tech (10-8-4, 4-4-2 ACC) on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m. The two other teams coming to Provo are No. 10 USC (15-4-1, 5-3-1 Pac 10) and Boston University (15-5-1, 8-0-0 America East), both will also play on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. The winners of each game will meet in the second round at South Field on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.

The meeting between BYU and Virginia Tech will be the first meeting between the two schools. Virginia Tech lost to No. 1 North Carolina 3-0 in the ACC Tournament Championship Game. The Cougars are 2-0 (1-0 at home) all-time against Boston University. The teams last played in 2001, with BYU winning 4-0. BYU is 2-3-2 all-time. (2-0-1 at home) against Southern California. The last time the Cougars faced the Trojans was in 2004 in Los Angeles, battled to a 1-1 in two overtimes. USC is the defending National Champion, defeating Florida State 2-0 to win the 2007 College Cup.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. Prices for All Session tickets (to all three games) are $15 for reserved seat tickets, $12 for adult general admission tickets, $7 for student general admission tickets, and $1 for children general admission tickets. Prices for single game tickets are $10 for reserved seat tickets, $7 for adult general admission tickets, $4 for student general admission tickets and $1 for child general admission tickets. Tickets can be ordered online at www.byutickets.com, by calling the Marriott Center ticket office at 800-322-BYU1 (2981) or 801-422-BYU1 (2981), or in person at the Marriott Center ticket office.

Updated game times, ticket prices and other information will be available at the BYU women’s soccer home page at www.byucougars.com/soccer_w/.

This appearance will be the 11th trip to the NCAA tournament for the Cougars in the past 12 years. BYU’s best performance in the tournament took place in 2003, when the team advanced to the Elite Eight.

A complete pdf bracket of the tournament can be accessed by clicking the link at the top of the release.