INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State soccer team is headed south this weekend for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Redbirds drew the University of South Florida during the NCAA Selection Show Monday afternoon and will face the Bulls at 6 p.m. CST Saturday night.
ISU has set a school record this season with 15 wins after defeating Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference championship. This is the Redbirds' sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament and last season they became the first Valley team to ever win a tournament game when they defeated Louisville on penalty kicks.
"Very unexpected draw," said head coach Drew Roff. "We've usually been a bus trip away, but we're excited for a new adventure. To be in position to host a game means that they are a very talented team and a successful program, so we have our work cut out for us, but we're thrilled to have the opportunity."
South Florida will enter the match at 13-6-2 and fell in the American Athletic Conference championship to Connecticut on penalty kicks. Prior to the loss, the Bulls were on a six-game winning streak.
"To go play someone out of the region and someone that, right now, we know nothing about is exciting," said Roff. "This time of year we need to focus on our own team. We will find out some tendencies on them and some things that they might do, but we really get to focus on what we need to do."
The official date and time has not yet been announced, but the match will be played Saturday at 6 p.m. CST. Should ISU advance, they would face Pepperdine or USC in the second round. For a complete bracket click here: http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/soccer-women/d1
Continue to check GoRedbirds.com or the team's Twitter account @ISU_Soccer for the most recent updates on game times, statistics and scores.
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