NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State women's soccer team will face the bracket No. 3 seed Florida (15-5-2) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as announced Monday by the NCAA on ESPNews. Friday's game is set to take place in Columbus, Ohio.
"We have had a lot of success the past three years, but there was always something missing," said head coach Drew Roff. "So, we're excited to finally be a part of the NCAA Tournament. It is a very rewarding feeling, and I'm so proud of our players. We were the last team on the last bracket, but it was worth the wait. We played a tough nonconference schedule this year. We respect how talented Florida is, but we have experience in playing tough teams. We will hope for the best and see where we are at the national level."
Friday's game marks the first postseason appearance for the Redbirds in six years. The Redbirds advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2003, where they lost to No. 16 Kansas, 3-1, in the first round.
The Redbirds (12-6-1) clinched a bid for the tournament after shutting out Creighton, 1-0, Sunday to win the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship at Omaha, Neb.
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