Canes to Host Alabama in NCAA First Round
Miami returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008

11/7/11

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s soccer team is one of nine Atlantic Coast Conference teams selected to play in the 2011 NCAA Tournament as announced on Monday. The Hurricanes will face Alabama at Cobb Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Canes ended the regular season with a 9-7-1 overall record and a 3-6-1 record inside conference play. Big wins over two Top-10 teams (Boston College and Maryland), however, and a No. 25 ranking in the latest RPI solidified the Canes’ chances at postseason play.

“We have come such a long way since last spring, and I’m very happy for our women, especially for our two seniors Vikki [Alonzo] and Brooke [Van Aman],” Head Coach Tom Anagnost said.

Miami’s return to the NCAA tournament was aided by a spectacular season from junior forward Kate Howarth. The Grand Blanc, Mich. native was named to the All-ACC Second Team after recording a team-leading 10 goals, six assists and 26 points.

The Hurricanes return to the field of 64 after making back-to-back appearances in 2007 and 2008. In their last NCAA tournament appearance, the Hurricanes made an early exit with a 3-1 first-round loss to UCF.

Miami will face Alabama (10-8-3), who earned their first postseason berth since 2008 and their second in program history, for the third time in the series between the two teams. The Crimson Tide defeated the Hurricanes 3-0 in their first match-up in 1998, but the Hurricanes took the second contest at Tuscaloosa 1-0 in 2000.

“It is going to be a very difficult game on Saturday and we must prepare extremely well for it,” Coach Anagnost said. “We are especially excited to be hosting a great team like Alabama. It should be a great match.”

ACC representatives Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are all repeat selections from last year’s tournament. The nine ACC teams selected to the 2011 NCAA Tournament field leads all conferences, one ahead of the eight selected from the SEC. This is the ninth straight year that at least seven ACC teams have made the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship field, and the 13th straight year that at least six have been selected. Play begins for all nine ACC teams this weekend (Nov. 11-13).