UVa. receives #1 seed in NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament

The Virginia women’s soccer team received the No. 1 seed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament and will open play at home on Friday as it hosts Saint Francis (Pa.). Game time at Klöckner Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

“It is always an honor to be selected for the NCAA Tournament,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “We look forward to the first round against Saint Francis on Friday. These are all good teams at this point and we have to be ready every game. Being a No. 1 seed is nice because it means we are at home for the first few weeks of the tournament if we keep winning.”

This season marks the 16th time in the past 20 years that the Cavaliers have hosted NCAA Tournament play at Klöckner Stadium. Overall, Virginia has a 21-11-3 record in home NCAA Tournament games.

Virginia is making its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 26th overall appearance. Only North Carolina and Notre Dame have longer active streaks of tournament appearances. Last year Virginia advanced to the round of 16, defeating La Salle and Rutgers before falling to Duke.

The Cavaliers are the overall No. 1 seed and are one of the top four national seeds for the first time since 2004. They will host games through the quarterfinals if they continue to advance.

Virginia enters the NCAA Tournament with a 20-1 record. The Cavaliers won a school-record 20 consecutive games before falling to Virginia Tech in the ACC semifinals.

Saint Francis (Pa.) received an automatic bid as the champion of the Northeast Conference. The Red Flash (13-7-1) is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance.

Tickets for the game are $9 for reserved seats, $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth/student/senior citizen general admission. Fans can order tickets for the tournament online at VirginiaSports.com and by phone through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets are also available at the gate beginning one hour prior to the start of play.

On Friday, cash parking will be available for $5 in the University Hall, McCue Center and John Paul Jones Arena lots, and free parking will be available in the Emmet/Ivy Parking Garage.

“The community has shown that they have really gotten behind this team,” said Swanson. “Our fans have been a big part of our success this season. We hope that they continue to come out to see us play in the tournament and that we continue to perform for them.”